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I took my spade and went to work in the garden." — Page 10. 



THE NARRATIVE 



OF 



CAPTAIN CO IGNET 

(SOLDIEB OF THE EMPIBE) 

1776-1850 

edited from the original manuscript 
By LOREDAN LARCHEY 



^ 



TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH 

By MRS. M. CAREY 




^ f \ ' > 



ijt; 18 1890 ■ i 



NEW YORK 
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 

46 East Foueteenth Street 






Copyright, 1890, by 
T. Y. Crowell & Co. 



Electrotyped by 
C. J. Peters & Son. 



Press of Berwick & Smith. 



PREFACE. 



Jean-Roch Coignet was pre-eminently what is called a thorough- 
going man. Whether as shepherd or wagoner, stable-boy or farm 
hand, soldier or captain, we find him always ready to do his best. 
Whether using a broom or drawing a sabre, he brings to bear all his 
mind, all his buoyancy of spii'it, and all his pride. Consequently, 
the perusal of his life I'ests one as does the company of good reliable 
men, upon whose devotion one can al ways count. 

It will be seen that his life was not without adventures, and that 
he knows how to relate them unusually well. One is not a story, 
teller at will. It is a natural gift, like the color-sense of the great 
masters, and without it a well-educated person will often find nothing 
to tell about a journey which an illiterate man so gifted will desci'ibe 
in the most eloquent manner. Our old captain was one of those who 
possessed this gift. He was imeducated, and he acknowledges the 
fact without hesitation. He did not know how to read or write until 
he was thirty-five years old. It was with great difficulty that, at the 
age of seventy-two, he traced the big schoolboy characters which 
cover the nine blank-books of his manuscript. 

How could he, at seventy-two, remember so many minute details ? 
The fact is less surprising than it appears : in the first place, the 
memory of early years becomes more vivid as age increases, and in 
the second place, Coignet had related his memories all his life long 
before writing them. Just so the bards of Homer recited his 
"Iliad." 

Are Coignet's memorials valuable as a book of history ? I do not 
go to them any more than to the " Iliad" to verify facts, as we say. 
I do not even stop to discuss or rectify their statements. Their inter- 
est is altogether of another kind. As is the case with all those who 
do the fighting, our soldier knew not how to give a detailed account 
of the operations of an ai-my ; but he gives us what we could never 
learn from the exact report of the chief of staff. From him you get 



iv PREFACE. 

the face of the combatant, the mcidents of the march, the color of 
the battle-field, the unforeseen action, the hot work of the fight, — 
everything that is spirited, picturesque, or specially exciting. 

We know the whole story, doubtless, but how much better we 
comprehend it here, when we see the decorations and the actors ! 
We see them at Montebello when, being for the first time under fire, 
our hero stoojDS before the volley of grape-shot, and condemns his 
weakness immediately by answering, " I will not," to the sergeant- 
major, who cries, "Don't duck your head." We find them at 
Marengo, when, thrown down and sabred, he had no chance to save 
his life but to cling, all bleeding as he was, to the tail of a dragoon's 
horse till he could rejoin his demi-brigade, pick up a gun, and fire 
even better than before ; in the icy bogs of Poland, where he was 
obliged to take hold of each leg with both hands, and pull it out of 
the mud in order to take a step forward ; at Essling, when the 
Austrian cannonade made the bear-skin caps of the old guard fly 
about, and dashed around i^ieces of flesh with such force that many 
were knocked down by them; on the road to Witepsk, when, with 
only the formality of drawing lots, we see seventy marauders shot, 
oftered up as a last sacrifice to the expiring discipline of the grand 
army; at Mainz, during the horrors of the tyjDhus fever, the final 
scourge of the i-etreat, when it Avas necessary to bring out the cannon 
to force the convicts to cord-up the piles of dead bodies on foraging 
wagons, and afterwards dump the terrible load into one great pit. 
By the side of these black shadows we find bright lights, charming 
pictures of rural life, amusing scenes of bivouac, reflections no less 
amusing upon the countries traversed, and infinitely precious details 
of the relations of the chiefs with their soldiers. Pai'ticularly does 
he show what a chief may get out of our troojjs, when he knows how 
to win their esteem. The value of the office depends upon the man 
wlao fills it; and when the man is worthless, French indiscipline 
leaps at one bound to the greatest excess. 

For this reason the officers risk their persons in every danger, 
keep a constant watch over their soldiers, and associate freely with 
them without fear of losing their respect. At Mount St. Bernard 
they tear up their clothing in hitching themselves to the cannon in 
the difficult passes. If a trooper does a bi-ave act, they embrace him 
heartily, and make him drink from their cups. Courage not less 
than rank is the officer's distinction. At critical moments generals are 
seen to take the position of sharpshooters, and to rally fugitives 



PRE FA CE. V 

under fire of the enemy. Dorsenne, knocked down by the explosion 
of a shell in the midst of his grenadiers, immediately rises, and cries 
out, "Your general is not hurt. Depend upon him, he will die at 
his post." Though he could not stand upright, as Dorsenne did, that 
colonel commanding the celebrated battery at Wagram was none the 
less great, who, though wounded early in the morning, had himself 
borne in an ambulance till evening, and remained at the head of his 
forces, though unable to sit up. " He commanded sitting up in bed," 
says Coignet, in six words that are worth as much as a picture. 

At Kowno, Coignet sees Ney snatch a gun, and face the enemy 
with five men. At Brienne, Prince Berthier charges four Cossacks, 
and retakes a cannon from them. At Montereau, Marshal Lefebvre 
rides at a gallojD over a broken bridge, and sabres a rear-guard with 
no following but his staft' officers. With such examples before them, 
it is easy to believe that the soldiers did not remain behind. Thus, 
at the rout of the Mincio, the sight of a single horseman remaining 
alone at his post as sharpshooter suffices to rall}^ his division. The 
grenadiers at Essling and Wagram contend for the honor of dying 
as voluntary cannoneers at an untenable post. At Austerlitz a Mame- 
luke, who had already captured two flags in a cavalry fight, dashes 
in a third time, and is seen no more. Nor must we forget that 
quartermaster who, having his leg broken on the field of Eylau, 
walks off alone to the ambulance with two guns for crutches, saying 
that with his three pairs of boots he would have enough to last a 
long time. We recognize this as mere facetiousness ; but at the 
point when the gayest-hearted can laugh no longer, facetiousness 
becomes heroism. 

Is all this really true ? they ask, who do not feel within themselves 
either the desire or the power to do so much. I have not seen it any 
more than they ; but I do know very Avell that Coignet is a story- 
teller of the first order ; that he has the gift of style without know- 
ing it. I have always observed that any one who possesses this 
merit is sure to jaossess two others : that of feeling intensely, and 
that of expressing his feelings with absolute sincerity. I have also 
often remarked that absolute truthfulness will crown as an author 
many a writer who would fall below mediocrity if asked to lie ; that 
is, to write a work of fiction. 

I do not feel that Coignet has invented anything. He was not 
capable of it. But did this Coignet really ever exist ? I know that this 
question also has been asked. Certainly, it is possible to doubt every 



vi PREFACE. 

thing, and to believe that I have taken the trouble to fabricate an 
original manuscript. That also has been said to me. They who 
consider fiction more powerful than truth, not suspecting that the 
richest imagination will always fall short of the unforeseen reality, 
will continue to have eyes that see not. 

Let these sceptics take the I'oad to Auxerre. Let them go to the 
municipal library, and question my obliging colleague Molard, to 
whom I owe the chance of obtaining the autograph manuscript. 
Let them see the last possessor of it, M. Lorin: let them demand 
an interview with M. Henri Monceau, who gave me two portraits 
of Captain Coignet, and who also afterwards sent me an extract from 
his will, dated Nov. 2, 1858, and written in the office of Maitre 
Limosin. At Paris, I refer them to the offices of the minister of war 
and the chancellor of the Legion of Honor, and thence obtained 
duplicates of Coignet's record of service and his commissions. Last 
May I saw again the Cafe Milon and that grocery at the corner of 
the Rue des Belles-Filles, where the captain, retired on half-pay, 
went on an errand to grind his pound of coffee, in order to make his 
offer of marriage with more delicacy. I had for my guide M. Mon- 
ceaux, who knew Coignet as, indeed, lie knows everybody and every- 
thing in old Auxerre. He could tell many things about him to those 
wlio doubt. 

Proof is, therefore, abundant. There is no room for them here, 
for an illustrated book does not admit of the expansion or the com- 
pleteness of apparatus which are usual in the publication of a histori- 
cal document. The text of our first edition has not been changed ; 
but it has been reduced so as to make an edition suitable for general 
readers. As a compensation for this, the illustrations, by a popular 
artist, add greatly to the attractions of the new book. Like ourselves, 
fascinated by the adventures of the brave Jean-Roch, M. Le Blant 
has identified himself with his hero. His pictures have the charm of 
truthfulness, and I add my thanks for them to those of the public. 

LOREDAN LaRCHEY. 
Paris, August 30, 1887. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 

PAGE 
MY CHILDHOOD. —1 AM BY TUKNS SHEPHERD, WAGONER, AND 
STABLE-BOY. —I LEAVE MY NATIVE VILLAGE A SECOND TIME. 

— I ENTER THE SERVICE OF M. POTIER 1 

SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 

DEPARTURE FOR THE ARMY. — MY MILITARY LIFE UP TO THE 

BATTLE OF MONTEBELLO 51 

THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 

THE BATTLE OF MARENGO. — EXCURSION INTO SPAIN ... 71 

FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 

MY DECORATION. — I AM POISONED. — RETURN TO MY COUNTRY. 

— THE CAMP OF BOULOGNE AND THE FIRST AUSTRIAN CAM- 
PAIGN 101 

FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 

PRUSSIAN AND POLISH CAMPAIGNS. — CONFERENCE AT TILSIT. 

— I AM MADE CORPORAL. — SPANISH AND AUSTRIAN CAM- 
PAIGNS. — I AM APPOINTED SERGEANT 130 

SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 

RE-ENTRANCE INTO FRANCE. — THE FESTIVITIES OF THE IMPE- 
RIAL MARRIAGE. — I DO THE DUTIES OF SERGEANT-INSTRUCTOR, 
MESS-CHIEF, AND BAGGAGE-MASTER 183 

SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 

THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN. — I AM APPOINTED LIEUTENANT ON 

THE MINOR IMPERIAL STAFF. — THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW, 208 



viii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 

PAGE 
1 AM APPOINTED CAPTAIN. — CAMPAIGNS OF 1813 AND 1814. — 

THE FAKEWELLS AT FONTAINEBLEAU. — MY VISIT TO COULOM- 

WIEKS . 245 

NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 

ON HALF-PAY. — THE HUNDRED DAYS. — TEN Y'EAKS OF SUPER- 
INTENDENCE. — MY MAKKIAGE. — THE REVOLUTION OF 1830. — 
I AM APPOINTED AN OFFICER IN THE LEGION OF HONOR . 272 

DOCUMENTARY EXTRACTS. 

STATEMENT OF THE MILITARY SERVICES OF COIGNET ( JEAN-ROCH). 
FAC-SIMILE OF A PAGE OF THE NOTE-BOOKS OF CAPTAIN 
COIGNET 315 




THE 

NAKRATIYE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 

MY CHILDHOOD. I AM BY TURNS SHEPHERD, WAGONER, AND 

STABLE-BOY. I LEAVE MY NATIVE VILLAGE A SECOND TIME. 

I ENTER THE SERVICE OF M. POTIER. 

I WAS born at Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, in the Depart- 
ment of the Yonne, August 16, 1776. 

My father had three wives. The first left tAvo daughters ; 
the second, four children, — a girl and three boys. The young- 
est was six years old, my sister seven, I was eight, and my 
eldest brother nine, when we had the misfortune to lose our 
dear mother. My father married again the third time. He 
married his servant, who bore him seven children. She was 
eighteen years old, and was called a beauty. This stepmother 
ruled everything. We poor little orphans were beaten night 
and day. She choked us to give us a good color. Every day, 
when my father returned from hunting, he would ask, "My 
dear, where are the children ? " and my stepmother answered, 
" They are asleep." 

Every day it was the same thing. We never saw our father. 
She took every means to prevent our finding an opportunity 



2 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

to complain. However, her vigilance was at fault one morn- 
ing, and my father found my brother and me with tears on our 
cheeks. " What is the matter ?" he asked. "We are dying 
of hunger. She beats us everyday." — "Come with me. I 
will see about this." 

The result of this information was terrible. The whippings 
did not cease, and the bread was curtailed. At last, not being 
able to stand it any longer, my elder brother took me by the 
hand and said, " If you are willing, we will go away. Let us 
each take a shirt, and say good-by to no one." 

Early in the morning we set out, and went to Etais, a place 
about an hour's walk from our home. It was the day of a 
fair. My brother put a bunch of oak leaves in my little hat, 
and hired me out for a shepherd. I earned twenty-four francs 
a year, and a pair of wooden shoes. 

I went to a village called Chamois. It was surrounded by 
a forest. I served as a watch-dog for the shepherdess. " Go 
yonder," said the woman to me. As I was going along the 
edge of the wood so as to keep the sheep away from it, a big 
wolf ran out, drove the sheep back, and seized upon one of the 
finest in the flock. I had never had any experience with such 
a beast. The shepherdess screamed, and told me to run. I 
hastened to the spot. The wolf could not throw the sheep on 
his back, so I had time to catch hold of its hind feet, and the 
wolf pulled one way and I the other. 

But Providence came to my assistance. Two enormous dogs, 
wearing iron collars, rushed out, and in a moment the wolf 
was killed. Imagine my joy at having saved my sheep, and 
seeing the beast stretched dead upon the ground. 

I served the shepherdess as watch-dog for a year. From 
there I went to the fair at Entrains. I hired myself out, for 
thirty francs, a blouse, and a pair of wooden shoes, to two old 
farmers of Les Bardins, near Menon, who sold wood on the 
wharves, and who made from twelve to fifteen hundred francs 
by my labor. 

They had twelve head of cattle, of which six were oxen. In 
the winter I threshed in the barn, and slept on the straw. I 
became covered with vermin, and was perfectly wretched. 



FIR ST NO TE-B OOK. 3 

On the first of May I began hauling wood to the wharves 
with my three wagons, and always returned to the fields. 
Every evening my master came and brought me my piece of 
bread and an omelet made of two eggs cooked with leeks and 
hemp-seed oil. I only went to the house on Martinmas Day, 
when they did me the honor to give me a bit of salt pork. 

In fine weather I slept in the beautiful wood belonging to 
Madame de Damas. I had my favorite, the gentlest of my six 
oxen. As soon as he lay down for the night I was beside him. 




First I pulled off my sabots, and then I poked my feet under 
his hind legs and put my head down on his neck. 

But about two o'clock in the morning my six oxen arose 
without noise, and my comrade got up without my knowing it. 
Then the poor herdsman was left on the ground. Not knowing 
where to find my oxen in the darkness, I put on my wooden 
shoes and listened. I wandered along the edge of the young 
wood, torn by briers, which made the blood run down into my. 
sabots. I cried, for my ankles were cut to the bone. Often, 
on my way, I used to encounter wolves, with eyes shining like 
sparks, but my courage never abandoned me. 



4 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

At last I would find my six oxen, then I would make the 
sign of the cross. How glad I was ! I led the deserters back 
to my three wagons, which were loaded with cord-wood, and 
then waited till my master came, to hitch up and set off for 
the wharf. Then I returned to the pasture, and the master 
left me there in the evening. I received my piece of bread, 
and always the two eggs cooked with leeks and hemp-seed oil. 
And this happened every day for three years. The pot was 
empty under the kneading-trough.^ But the worst of it was 
the vermin that had taken possession of me. 

Not being able to endure it any longer, in spite of all possible 
entreaties, I left the village. I went back to my native place 
to see if they would recognize me, but no one remembered the 
lost child. Four years of absence had made a great change in. 
me, and no one any longer knew me. 

I reached Druyes on Sunday ; I went to see its beautiful 
fountains which flowed near my father's garden. I began to 
cry, but after a moment's struggle with my grief, I determined 
what to do. I washed my face in the clear water where for- 
merly I had walked with my brothers and sisters. 

At last the hour sounded for mass. I went to the church, 
my little handkerchief in my hand, for my heart was swelling. 
But I held out. I went to mass, and knelt down. I said my 
little prayer looking down. No one paid any attention to me. 
However I heard a woman say, " There is a little Morvandian 
who prays earnestly to the good God." I was so changed that 
no one knew me, but I knew everybody. I spoke to no one j 
when mass was over I went out of the church. I had at once 
recognized my father who sung among the choristers ; little 
did he know that one of his children whom he had abandoned 
was so near him. 

I had walked three leagues, and was very hungry when I 
left the church after mass. I went to the house of my half- 
sister, the child of the first marriage, who kept an inn ; I 
asked her for something to eat. 

" What do you want for dinner, boy ? " 

1 i.e., bread took the place of soup. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 5 

" Half a bottle of wine and a little meat and bread, madame, 
if you please." 

A bit of stew was brought to me ; I ate like an ogre, and 
got into a corner so I could see all the country people who 
came in doing the same. When I had finished my dinner I 
asked, " How much do I owe you, madame ? " — " Fifteen sous, 
my boy." — " There they are, madame." — " You are from Mor- 
van, are you not, child ? " — " Yes, madame, I have come to 
tr}'' to find a place." 

She called her husband. " Granger," said she, '' here is a 
little boy who wants to hire himself out." — " How old are 
you ? " — " Twelve, sir." — " Where do you come from ? " — 
" From Menon." — " Ah, you are from Morvan ? " — " Yes, sir." 

— " Do you know how to thresh in the barn ? " — "Yes, sir." 
— '' Have you worked at it already ? " — " Four years, sir." — 
" How much do you ask by the year ? " — "In our country, sir, 
we are paid in grain and money." — " Very well, if you like, 
you shall stay here, you shall be the stable-boy ; all the tips 
shall be yours. Are you accustomed to sleep on the straw ? " — 
" Yes, sir." — " If you suit me I will give you a louis a year." 
— " That is sufficient, I will stay ; shall I pay for my din- 
ner ? " — " jSTo," said he, " I am going to set you to work." 

He took me into the garden, which I had known long 
before he had, and in which I had enjoyed all my childish 
frolics. I was the most boisterous one in the neighborhood, 
and my companions used to thi'ow stones at me and call me " red 
head." I always came out best, being never afraid of blows ; 
our stepmother had accustomed us to them. I remember once 
my nose was dirty ; she took hold of it with the tweezers to wipe 
it, and was wicked enough to hurt me. " I will pull it off," she 
said. Consequently the tweezers were thrown into the well. 

My brother-in-law, then, took me into his garden and gave 
me a spade. I worked a quarter of an hour ; then he said, 
" Well done ; but that's enough ; we don't work on Sunday." 

— " Well," said my sister, " what shall he do ? " — " He shall 
wait upon the table ; go bring some wine from the cellar." I 
brought a basket of bottles and handed some to each one. I 
ran about like a young partridge. 



6 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

In the evening they gave me some bread and cheese. At 
ten o'clock, my brother-in-law took me to the barn to sleep, 
and said, " You must get up early so as to thresh the grain, 
then put the bread into the oven and clean the stables 
nicely." — " All right, it shall all be done." 

I bade my master good-night and rolled myself up in the 
straw. Imagine how I cried ! If any one could have seen 
me he would have found my eyes as red as a rabbit's, so great 
was my mortification at the idea of being a servant in my 
sister's house and that at my father's door. 

I awoke easily ; there was nothing to do but crawl out of 
my hole and give myself a shake. I set to Avork to thresh 
the grain so as to make the bread by eight o'clock ; then I 
went into the stable and put every thing in order, and at nine 
o'clock I saw my master appear. " Well, Jean, how does the 
work come on ? " — " Not badly, sir." — '' Let us see the barn. 
Your work is well done," said he ; " these bundles of straw 
are well made." — " Ah, sir, at Menon I threshed the whole 
winter." — " Come along, my boy, come to breakfast." 

At last with a swelling heart I went into the house of that 
sister whom my mother had raised as her own child. I took 
off my hat. " Wife," said he, " here is a little boy who 
works well, we must give him some breakfast." They gave 
me some bread and cheese and a glass of wine. My brother- 
in-law said, "You must make some soup for hiui." — "Very 
well, I will to-morrow ; I got up too late this morning." 

The next day I set to work, and at the regular hour I had 
my meal. Ah ! what a surprise ; I found an onion soup and 
some cheese with a bottle of wine. " Do not be bashful, my 
boy," said the master ; " you are to spade in the garden." 
— "Yes, sir." 

At nine o'clock I started off to my work with my spade on my 
shoulder. What was my surprise to see my father watering 
his cabbages ! He looked at me ; I took off my hat, my heart 
was bursting, but I tried to be brave. He spoke to me^ ask- 
ing, " Are you living with my son-in-law ? " — " Yes, sir ; so he 
is your son-in-law ? " — " Yes, my boy. Where do you come 
from ? " — " From Morvan." — " From what town ? " — " From 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 7 

Menon ; I worked in the village of Les Bardins." — " Ah ! I 
am well acquainted with all that country. Do you know the 
village of the Coignets ? " — " Yes, sir ; oh ! yes." — " Well, it 
was built by my ancestors." — " Indeed, sir ! " — " Have you 
seen the splendid forests which belong to Madame de 
Damas ? " — "I know them well. I kept my master's oxen 
there for three years ; every night in summer I slept under 
the fine old oaks." — " But, my boy, you will be happier with 




my daughter." — "I hope so." — " What is your name ? " — 
" Jean." — " And your father's ? " — " In his neighborhood they 
call him 'The lover.' I don't know if that is his real name." 
— " Has he any children ? " — " There are four of us." — 
"What does your father do ? " — " He hunts in the woods ; ^ 
there is much game thereabout, any number of stags and hinds 
and deer. And as for wolves, it is full of them ; sometimes I 
was very much afraid of them. Oh ! I suffered too much, so 

1 There was some malice in these replies, for Coignet's father was not famous 
either for his conjugal iidelity or for his respect for the game laws. 



8 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I came away." — " You did right, my boy ; work away, you 
will be happy with my son-in-law." 

One day some travellers came in two carriages. I put their 
horses in the stable, and the next day I got a franc for a tip. 
How pleased I was ! I was sent to the cellar to rinse some 
bottles, and I did it well. After that the little stable-boy was 
set at all sorts of work ; they made me trot around. It was, 
" Jean, come here," and " Jean, go there ; " I waited on the 
table, I did duty in the cellar, the stable, the barn, and the 
garden. I often saw my father and said, " Good morning, 
M. Coignet." (I could not forget that name, it was graven 
on my heart.) " Good morning, Jean ; are you getting tired, 
my boy ? " — "No, sir, not at all." 

Best of all, I earned money every day. At the end of two 
months I got entirely rid of the vermin, and was really clean. 
My Sunday fees and the stable fees together amounted to six 
francs a week. This life lasted three months, daring which, 
to my great grief, I had heard nothing of my two younger 
brothers and my sister. 

Every day I saw two of the companions of my infancy 
who lived next door. I spoke to them ; the younger of the 
two came to see me. I was spading, and my father was 
in the garden. "Good morning, M. Coignet," said young 
Allard to him. " Ah ! that you, Tiline ? " That was my 
companion's name. And my father went away. 

Then we entered into conversation. " You came from some 
distance away, didn't you ? " said he to me. " I came from 
Morvan." — " Is Morvan very far ? " — " Oh, no ; only five 
leagues. M. Coignet knows all about my country. There is 
a village near us called the village of the Coignets." — "Ah, 
that wicked man has lost four of his children. We grieved 
for them, my brother and I, they were such jolly companions.-^ 
We were always together. They lost their mother when they 
were very young, and they were so unfortunate as to have a 

1 Four years spent in the woods must indeed have changed our hero, if none of 
his family could recognize him. But it must be observed tliat in the country, and 
particularly in a family where there are a lot of little children, and where the parents 
are not .affectionate, the child's face is not so impressed upon the memory as in the 
city. Then, also, from eight to twelve years a child changes very much. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 9 

stepmother who beat them every day. They used to come 
to ovir house, and we gave them some bread, for they had had 
nothing to eat, and were crying. That grieved us very much. 
We used to take bread in our pockets and carry it out to divide 
between them. It was pitiful to see how they devoured it. 
One day my brother said to me, 'Come, let us go to see the 
little Coignets, and take them some bread.' To our surprise, 
we found that the two elder ones had gone away, and no one 
could find them. The next day there was no news of them. 
We told our father about it, and he said, ' Poor children, they 
were so unhappy : always getting beaten ! ' I asked the little 
one and his sister where their two brothers were. They an- 
swered that they had gone away. ' But where ? ' — ' Ah, I 
cannot tell.' My father went over to inquire of Coignet, their 
father. ' I hear that your boys have gone away ? ' He an- 
swered, 'I believe that they have gone to see some relatives 
near the Alouettes mountains. They are little runaways. I 
shall thrash them when they come back.' " 

But this was not all. Here is what I afterwards learned. 
There were little Alexander and Marianne still left to stand 
in this wicked woman's way. She was anxious to lose no time 
in getting rid of them, and one fine day, when my father was 
in the country, she called the two poor little ones down, and 
late in the evening she took them by the hand and led them 
as far as she could into the forest of Druyes, where she left 
them, saying she would return. But she never went back ; 
she abandoned them to the mercy of the good Lord. Think 
of their wretchedness, those poor little things in the midst of 
the forest, in the dark, with nothing to eat, and not knowing 
how to find the way out ! They remained three days in this 
pitiful situation, living upon wild fruits, crying and calling 
for help. At last God sent them a liberator. He was known 
as Father Thibault, a miller of Beauvoir. I knew him after- 
wards, in 1804. 

My two companions next told me that the two youngest were 
no longer at home. " Poor little things ! " said they, " nobody 
knows what has become of them. Every one talks about father 
Coignet and his wife." This story brought the tears to my 



10 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

eyes. " You are crying," said they. " It is very painful to 
liear such tales as this." — " Bless me ! they got beaten every 
day, and their father has never tried to find them." 

It was time, however, to stop talking, for I had heard all 
that I could bear. I returned to the barn, not knowing what 
I ought to do, whether or not I should rush into the house 
and overwhelm my father with reproaches, and attack that 
fury of a stepmother, who was the cause of all our misfortune. 
I turned the matter over in my little head, and concluded not 
to create a scandal. I took my spade, and went to work in the 
garden. I was greatly surprised to see my stepmother appear 
holding a little brat by the hand. I could not restrain myself 
at the sight of this horrible woman. I came very near betray- 
ing myself. I left the garden as she approached me, and sneaked 
out behind the stables to cry to my heart's content. I began 
to have a horror of the garden. Every time I went there I 
found either my father or my mother, whom I wished to avoid 
as much as possible. Many a time I was tempted to creep 
through the fence which separated the two gardens, and strike 
the mother and her child a blow over the head with my spade. 
But God restrained me, and I escaped. 

Now the scene changes. Providence came to my assistance. 
Two horse-traders came to spend the night at M. Bomain's (he 
kept the large inn), but the host and hostess were having a 
fight with pitchforks, so the men came to my sister's. How 
glad I was to see two such fine gentlemen come to the house, 
and on such fine horses ! What a godsend it was ! " Little 
fellow," said they, " put our horses in the stable and give them 
some bran." — '•' Very well, gentlemen ; it shall be attended to." 

Then they Avent into the house and ordered a good supper, 
and after that they came to the stable to see their nags, which 
were well groomed, and standing up to their bellies in straw. 
" All right, my little boy, we are quite satisfied." 

The smaller one said to me, " My young man, could you go 
with us to-morrow to show us the road to Entrains ? We are 
going to the fair, but our horses must be ready at three o'clock 
in the morning." — " Very well, gentlemen ; I promise you 
they shall be ready." — " It is three leagues off, is it not ? " 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 11 

— " Yes, gentlemen, but you must ask maclame's permission 
for me to go with, you." — " That is so. We Avill ask it of her." 

I gave some oats and hay to the horses while the gentlemen 
stood there, and then they went to bed, so as to get up at three 
o'clock in the morning to go to the fair at Entrains, which is 
called Les Brandons. At two o'clock the horses were saddled. 
I went to waken the gentlemen, and told them their nags were 
ready. 

I saw on the table two pistols and a watch ; they made it 
strike. " Half-past two ! Very well, little fellow. Give 
them some oats, and we will set out. Tell madame that we 
should like to have some boiled eggs for breakfast." I went 
to rouse my sister, who hurried as fast as possible. Then I 
returned to the stable to get my nags ready. The gentlemen 
came and mounted. " Madame, will you permit us to take 
your servant along to guide us through the wood ? " — " Cer- 
tainly, go with these gentlemen," said she. 

So I started off. As soon as we had gotten out of sight the 
men dismounted, and getting on each side of me asked how 
much I earned a year. " I can tell you readily ; some money, 
some shirts, a blouse, and a pair of sabots. Besides, I have 
some fees ; I cannot tell exactly how much they amount to." — 
"Very well, is it worth a hundred francs to you?" — "Oh, 
yes, gentlemen." — '• Since you seem to be an intelligent boy, 
if you will come with us, we will take you along with us, 
give 3^ou thirty sous a day, and buy you a horse and saddle. 
We will take you along as we come by on our return. If you 
get tired of us we will pay your way back." — "Gentlemen, I 
would like it very much, but you do not know anything about 
me, and neither do the people in the inn. So I will tell you 
my history. I am the brother of the tall woman at whose 
house you spent the night." — " It is not possible ! " — "I 
swear it is true ! " 

" How did this happen ? " — " If you will allow me I will 
explain it to you." 

Then they came nearer to me ; they took me by the arm. 
I assure you they were all attention. " Four years ' 'vas 

lost. There were four of us children. The bad ti' i o of 



12 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

our stepmother caused us to leave our father's house, and no 
one has recognized me. I am a servant in the house of my 
half-sister by a former marriage ; you can assure yourself of 
the fact the next time you come by." And here I began to 

" Come, do not cry ; we will write a line which you shall 
take to madame, who will send you to Auxerre for one of our 
horses which fell sick at the inn of M. Paquet, near the 
Temple Gate. Here is money and assignats to pay the veteri- 
narian and inn-keeper ; it amounts to thirty francs. Bring 
him slowly along, give him some bran at Courson, and do not 
mount him." — "!N"o, gentlemen. But you must not speak of 
me to my sister." — "Make yourself easy, my little fellow. 
Take this note to her, and to-morrow you shall set out for 
Auxerre. Take good care of our horse. We shall be at En- 
trains for three days. When you see our horses coming, hold 
yourself in readiness. Take only a shirt in your pocket." — 
''All right." 

I parted from these gentlemen with a beating heart. When 
I reached home they said, " You have been gone a long time." 
— "Yes, truly; those gentlemen •took me a great distance. 
Here is a letter which they gave me for you, and money and 
assignats to go to Auxerre for a horse that is sick there." — 
" Well, they are pretty free." — " But here is the letter ; that 
is your affair." He read the letter. " Very well, you must 
start at three o'clock in the morning ; you will have to make 
fourteen leagues to-morrow." 

That night I did not close my eyes ; my little head was 
turned upside doAvn by all that had just happened to me. I 
made my seven leagues in five hours, and at eight o'clock I 
reached the house of M. Paquet. I found my horse in good 
condition, presented my letter and was directed to the house 
of the veterinary, who gave me a receipt for his payment. 
Then I returned to the hotel, settled with M. Paquet, set off 
for Druyes, and reached home at seven o'clock exceedingly 
tired. To make fourteen leagues in one day was too much 
for a child of my age. However I groomed my horse, made 
him a good bed, and went to my supper. I put away the 



FIR S T NO TE-B OK. 13 

receipts and three francs remaining of the gentlemen's money, 
and. then laid myself down in my straw. Oh, how I slept. I 
took only one long nap. 

The next day I groomed my horse in the best possible 
manner and then went to breakfast. " You must go and 
thresh in the barn," said my brother-in-law. " Very well." 
I threshed until dinner-time, and then he said, " You must go 
and spade in the garden." 

I went, and there I found my father and my stepmother. 
''Well, here you are, Jean." — "Yes, M. Coignet." — "You 
have come back from Auxerre ? " — " Yes, sir." — " You 
walked fast. Did you go over the town ? " — " No, sir, I did 
not have time to see much of it." — " That's true." As I was 
about to leave them I heard my stepmother say to my father, 
" Granger is very fortunate to have such an intelligent young 
fellow." — " He is indeed," said my father. " How old are 
you ? " — " Twelve years, sir." — " Ah, I think you will make a 
fine man." — " I hope so." — " Continue as you have begun ; 
every one is pleased with you." — " Thank you, sir." 

Then I retired with a beating heart. 

Every day I went into the garden to see if I could see the 
horses of the merchants coming ; they could be seen half a 
league off. At last on the eighth day, I saw on the great 
white road a large number of horses coming towards the 
town. Each man led only one horse ; they were not yet put 
in pairs. There were forty-five of them, and perhaps more. 
I hastened at once to the house to get my best waistcoat, put 
on one shirt, and another in my pocket, and then I went 
quickly to the stable to saddle the gentlemen's horse. 

I had scarcely finished when I saw all those beautiful 
horses go by, all of them dappled gray. I did not dare 
speak to those Morvandians, I was brimming over with joy. 
The last one had still not passed by when those gentlemen 
rode into the court yard with three horses. " Well, my little 
boy, how does our horse come on ? " — " It is in splendid con- 
dition." — "We will dismount and take a look at him. Ah, 
he is entirely well. Give him to our boy to take him along ; 
he has not yet gone by." The horses continued to go by. As 



14 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



their stud-groom passed : " Francis, take your nag, follow the 
horses," 

My sister appeared, and the gentlemen bowed to her. 
" Madame, how much do we owe you for the feeding of our 






■^.,-~^-_v' 






':^^. 







\' horse ? " — '' 
s'entlemen." 



Twelve francs, 

— " Here they 

are, madame." — " Do not 

forget the boy." — "We will 

attend to that." 

My sister looked at me as 
I went out with the horse. 
"See here," said she, "you 
have on your Sunday 
clothes." — " So you see." — 
" Come, to whom are you 
speaking ? " — " To you." — 
"What are you saying?" — 
"Yes, to you. You don't un- 
derstand that your servant is your brother ? " — " What ? " — 
" That's just how it is. You are a bad sister. You allowed 
me and my little brothers and sister to go away. Do you not 
remember that my mother paid three hundred francs to have 
you learn the linen-draper's trade under Madame Morin ? 



;?/^^/- 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 15 

You have no heart. My mother loved you as she did us, and 
you allowed us to go away." 

At this my sister cried aloud. " Well, madame, is it true 
what this little boy says ? If so, it was a cruel thing." — 
" Gentlemen, it was not I who let them go away and get lost, 
it was my father. Ah, the miserable man, he lost four of his 
children." 

Hearing the cries and lamentations of my sister, the neigh- 
bors came running in to see me. " This is one of father 
Coignet's children. One of them is found." And my sister 
and I wept. One of the gentlemen who held me by the 
hand, said, " Don't cry, my little fellow, we will never 
abandon you." 

My little companions came and embraced me. My father, 
who heard the hubbub, came in. All cried out, "Here is this 
M. Coignet who has lost his four children." And I said to 
the gentlemen, " That is my father, gentlemen." — " Here is 
one of your children, sir, and we are going to take him away 
with us." Then said I, " heartless father, what have you 
done with my two brothers and my sister ? Go find that 
wretch of a stepmother who beat us." — " That is so," they 
all cried out, "he is a bad father, and their stepmother is 
still worse." 

Every one continued to crowd around me, but these gentle- 
men kept hold of my arm. " Come, let us mount," said M. 
Potier (the smaller of the two), "we have had enough, of 
this. Let us go ; get on your nag." Then all followed me 
out, crying, " Good-by, little fellow, a hapj^y journey to you ! " 
My little companions came and embraced me, and the scalding 
tears flowed down my cheeks as I said, " Good-by, my good 
friends." 

The gentlemen placed me between them, and we rode along 
between two rows of people. The men took off their hats, 
and the women courtesied to the gentlemen. As for me, I 
cried, with my little hat in my hand. 

"We Avill trot up the mountain," said the gentlemen. 
"Let us catch up with our horses. Come, little fellow, be 
brave ! " We passed the horses as they were coming out of 



16 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

the wood, reached Couasora, and went to the great hotel of 
M. Eaveneau, where I visited the stables and had all neces- 
sary preparations made for forty-nine horses. The gentlemen 
ordered supper for forty-five men, not including the masters. 

On arriving, the horses were divided into groups of four, 
so as to pair them off the next day, and they were attached 
to two tethers. This was the first time that these horses had 
been placed side by side. It was time to give the gay beasts 
their hay and oats ; I was afraid we should not be able to 
manage them, for they were rearing like mad creatures. I 
began to beat them ; I did not leave them a moment, and the 
masters laughed as they saw me strike first one and then 
another. At seven o'clock the gentlemen came to look after 
and order supper for their men, who numbered forty-five ; 
they paid them their day's wages, retaining as many of them 
as they needed for the next day, set a watch in the stables 
for the night, and took me away with them. " Let us go to 
supper," said they; "come with us, boy; we will come back 
and see them again after awhile." 

To my astonishment I saw a table served as if for princes ; 
soup, boiled beef, a duck cooked with turnips, a chicken, 
salad, dessert, and sealed wine. " Sit there between us and 
eat. What a brave boy you are ! " The king was not happier 
than I. " See here," said M. Potier, " you must put a leg of 
chicken and some bread in a piece of paper to eat as you go 
along, for we shall not stop until bed-time. You will find 
boys at the inns who will hand each man a large glass of 
wine as he passes, without stopping him, and all will be paid 
for. You must keep behind as much as possible." 

Next morning we divided the horses into groups of four, 
fastened them together with poles padded with straw (this 
took a good deal of time), and then started off. Every day I 
was treated just as I had been the first day. What a change 
in my condition ! How glad I was to sleep in a good bed ! 
The poor little orphan no longer slept in the straw. And I 
had a good supper every day. I regarded these gentlemen as 
messengers sent by God to help me. 

We reached Nangis-en-Brie a week before the fair, and I 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 17 

had time to become acquainted with my two masters. One 
was aiamed M. Potier and the other M. Huze. The latter was 
good-natured, witty, and polite ; M. Potier was small and 
ugly. " If I could only live with M. Huze," I thought. 
But I was mistaken ; it was at the house of M. Potier that a 
happy fate awaited me. 

On Pridaj' I left ISTangis for Coulommiers. At three o'clock 
I rode into the great court-yard^ pqunted on my pretty nag, 
as proud as a pacha with three q ^ u o tto s. Madame came out 
and said, "Well, my boy, but is not your master coming this 
evening?" — "No, niadame, he will not be here till to- 
morrow." — "Have your horse put m the stable, and you come 
with me." As I went in walking by madame's side, four big 
housemaids cried out, "Ah! there he is, there is the little 
Morvandian." This hurt my feelings, but with my little hat 
in my hand I followed madame. " Go away," said she, " let 
the child alone. Go to your work. Come, little fellow." 

How beautiful she was, this Madame Potier ! for it was in 
fact the wife of the little man concerning whom I had had 
misgivings. I did not know it till the next day. I was so 
astonished to see such a beautiful wife, and such an ugly 
husband. > 

"Come." she added, "you must eat something, and have a 
glass of wine, for we do not have supper till seven o'clock." 

Then madame made me tell her all about our journey, and 
I also told her that all the horses were sold. " Are you 
pleased with your master ? " — "Oh, madame, I am delighted." 
— " Well, I am very glad to hear it ; my husband has written 
me that you are a very promising boy." — " Thank you, 
madame." 

At seven in the evening, supper was served. That was 
Friday. I was called and told to seat myself at the table. I 
found before me a table served as if for a great feast, a ser- 
vice of silver, silver goblets, and two baskets of wine. I Avas 
surprised also to find twelve servants : a miller, Vv^agoners, a 
farm-hand, milkmaid, chambermaid, baker-Avoman, and maid 
of all work. Six others had gone to Paris with wagons to 
take flour to the bakers ; they went there for this purpose 



18 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



every week. Coulommiers is fifteen leagues from Paris. 
There were two dishes of matelote on the table. The feast 
seemed ordered to suit my especial taste. 

A seat was given me beside a big, good-natured fellow, and 
madame asked him to help me. He gave me a piece of carp ; 
I felt mortified to see my plate so full of fish. I could have 




made two meals on the quantity he gave me. He saw that I 
ate very little, so he put a piece of bread in liis pocket, and 
gave it to me when lie came to the stable, saying, " You did 
not eat anything, you were too bashful." Ah ! how I de- 
voured it then, at my leisure, that nice piece of white bread ! 
At nine o'clock, a big maid came to make a bed for me in the 
stable. I was comfortably lodged ; a feather bed, a mattress, 
and nice white sheets. I felt very happy. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 19 

]S"ext morning my big comrade took me to the dining-hall, 
where I breakfasted with my half bottle of wine, and cheese. 
Mon Dieu, what cheese it was ! it was like cream. And 
Gonesse bread and native wine. I asked him what I should 
do. " Wait till madame gets up, she will tell you." — " Well, 
I will go and groom and water my nag, and clean out the 
stable." I was crazy to be at work. The stable-boy had 
gone to town, so I took advantage of the opportunity to 
clean out all the stables. 

Madame came out and found me with my coat off, and a 
broom in my hand. " Who told you to do that ? " — " No 
one, madame." — " Very well, but that is not your work ; 
come with me. Each one has his special work to do in this 
house ; but you have done this well. When my husband 
comes, he will tell you what you must do. Let us go into 
the garden ; take this basket, we will gather some vegetables. 
Do you know how to spade ? " — " Yes, madame." — '' So 
much the better. I will have you spade in our garden some- 
times, for at our house each one has his own work ; they do 
not interfere with one another." 

I went back to the house, and paid a visit to the mills of 
Chamois. On my return, I was surprised to find my two mas- 
ters, who were looking for madame. " So, here you are, my 
dear," said Madame Potier to her ugly husband, for it was 
indeed the one to whom 1 had least desire to belong. He 
was, however, the superior man of the two, both in fortune 
and in heart. M. Huze bade me good-morning and went 
away. I was sent for. " Wife," said my master, " here is a 
child whom I have brought you from Burgundy : he is a 
promising boy, and I can recommend him to you. I will tell 
you his history later." And there I stood, much abashed. 

"Well," said he, "are you feeling blue, my boy? Come, 
let us go and see the horses." Then he showed me all the 
stables and mills. All the servants bade their master good- 
morning. He did not seem like a master, he was a father to 
every one. A disagreeable word never fell from his lips. 

" To-morrow," said he to me, " we will go out on horseback, 
and I will show you my farms and the laborers. You must 



20 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

become acquainted with everything that belongs to me." I 
said to myself, "What is he going to do with me?" He 
spoke to his farm-hands and to all his workmen in the 
pleasantest manner. Then he said to me, " Come, let us go 
and see my meadows." And all the time he talked to me 
most kindly. " Pay attention to everything I show you, and 
to the landmarks, for I may send you sometimes to go the 
rounds among my farm-hands and other workmen, so as to 
inform me of what is going on." — "You may rest assured 
that I shall render you a faithful account of everything." — 
"I shall have to make you thoroughly acquainted with every- 
thing. You must always take your horse, for the distances 
are great." We had been out more than three hours, when 
he said, "Come, let us return to the house. To-morrow we 
will go somewhere else." 

In this way he made me familiar with all the details of his 
business. We spent eight days in going from one place to 
another. The ninth day a terrible storm arose. Water came 
from every direction, and surrounded the house ; no one could 
get out. The horses were all in the stables. Neither master 
nor miller could go out. I ran from one stable to the other, 
for the water was rising rapidly. At last I was obliged to 
paddle like a duck. The horses stood in it up to their 
haunches, but it still had not penetrated the house. 

There were three pig-sties in which the pigs ran great risk 
of being drowned, as they were in the basement. M. Potier 
sent for me, and said, " Try to save the pigs." — " All right, I 
will go at once," said I. I plunged into the water. At first 
I thought it would be impossible to do it, but upon reaching 
the first door, I punched a hole, and the water helped me to 
open it. In a moment my six big pigs were out and swim- 
ming like ducks. I did the same thing to the two other sties, 
and thus saved all of the eighteen pigs. Every one in the 
house was looking at me from the windows. J\[. Potier, who 
did not lose sight of me for a moment, directed me all the 
time. " Is the small gate of the courtyard closed ? " — " No, 
sir." — " Then the pigs will go through, they will follow the 
course of the waters." 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 



21 



I set out to cross the courtyard, but the water was too 
strong for me : I Avas too late. One of the pigs was just going 
through the gate, borne on by the current. M. Potier, who 
saw that one pig had escaped me, ran to the corner of the 
house, and called to me, "Take your nag, and try to get ahead 
of him." 

I ran to the stable, put a bridle on my nag, and dashed 

into the water to catch my deserter. M. Potier cried to me, 

" Carefully, bear to the right." But his words were lost. I 

went too far to the left. I plunged 

into a hole where lime had been 

slacked With one bound my horse 

went 111 and then out of the 

hole I could see nothing. 

Holdma: m\ horse firmly 




with the right hand, I wiped off my face, and followed my 
pig which was going swiftly down the meadow. Finally, 
though I had a hard struggle with the water, I got ahead of 
my pig. When I got his snout turned towards the house, he 
went as I directed. On reaching the courtyard, I slipped off 
my horse, perfectly stiff with cold. My masters were Avaiting 
for me on the stairway, and the stout maids stared at the 
poor little orphan all dripping and pale as death. But I had 
saved my master's pig. 

" Come, my dear," said my host and hostess, " come change 
your clothes." They took me into their beautiful chamber, 
where a bright fire was burning, and stripped me as naked as 



22 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I came into the world. "Drink," said they, "some of this 
warm wine." Then they wiped me dry as tenderly as if I had 
been their own child, and wrapped me in a blanket. M. Potier 
said to his wife, "My dear, if you would bring him one of 
my new shirts, he might try it on." — " Sure enough, the poor 
little fellow has only two of his own." — " Very well, yre must 
give him half a dozen. See here, he must be rewarded for his 
good conduct. I shall make him a present of that pair of 
pantaloons and round waistcoat you had made for me. He 
shall be dressed entirely in a new suit." — " You are right, 
my dear. I shall be delighted." M. Potier added, " You 
shall be paid eighteen francs a month, and the fees, three 
francs a horse." — "Monsieur and madame, how much I thank 
you." — " You deserve the reward. Just suppose you had 
been drowned trying to save the pig ! " 

I imagined myself dressed like the master of the house. 
Lord, how proud I felt ! I was no longer the little Morvan- 
dian. But as they were getting ready to dress me up, I said, 
" Master, I must not put on those clothes. I shall have to go 
back to my work. The horses and pigs must be cared for, 
and I should spoil them all." — " You are right, my child." 

Then they went for some clothes belonging to their 
nephew, and soon I was dressed in a working suit. There 
was no one at the stables. The stable-boy had gone to town, 
and the millers would not set foot into the water. They gave 
me a large glass of Burgundy, well sweetened, and I waded in 
again. I gave the horses their hay. I stopped my pigs up in 
an empty stable. In order to accomplish this, I got a long 
pole, drove all my fat fellows before me, and finally got them 
under control. I am sure I must have paddled about in the 
water two hours that day. By the evening, the water had 
disappeared, and the wagoners came in from all directions. I 
returned to the house, changed all my clothes, and went 
immediately to bed. The sweet wine made me sleep. Next 
day I thought no more about it. 

My master and mistress sent for me, took me into their 
chamber, and put an entirely new suit on me. After break- 
fast, M. Potier said to the stable-boy, "Saddle our nags." 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 23 

Then we set off to see the large farmers, and buy grain. 
My master bought ten thousand francs worth, and they 
treated us as friends. Doubtless M. Potier had spoken to 
these farmers ; for they paid me much attention, and I was 
seated at table next my master. I must say I had been much 
smartened up. I looked like a secretary. If they had only 
known that I did not know a letter in the alphabet ! How- 
ever, M. Potier's clothes served me as a passport with these 
gentlemen. All went well, and after dinner we started off at 
a gallop, and reached home at seven o'clock. I found that 
my place at table had been changed ; my plate was beside 
M. Potier on the left, while madame's was on the right. 
Then the head miller was next to madame, who served to our 
masters first. I ought to observe that my master and mistress 
always sat at the end of the table. It was like a family table. 
We never said " thee " to any one, always " you." On Sunday 
the master asked, " Who wants his wages advanced ? " 

When all the servants were assembled, M. Potier said to 
them, " I have appointed this young man to take my orders to 
you. I shall give him the keys to the hay and oats. He is 
to distribute to all the teams." Every one looked at me, and 
I, knowing nothing of all this arrangement, was overcome 
with confusion, and could not look up. At last my master 
said to me, " Get ready to go to town with me ; " I was glad to 
get away from the table. 

M. Potier gave me his keys, saying, " I must be off, we are 
going to see some large wheat-barns. Say, are you satisfied 
with what I have done for you ? My wife will take care of 
you." — "I will do everything I possibly can to please you." 
The next day, the bell rang to call me to give the order which 
I was to transmit to all the servants. The head man said to 
me, " What is it, sir ? " — ^* I am not ' sir.' I am yovir good 
comrade ; tell them all so. I am hired as you are. I do my 
work. I shall never abuse the confidence of my master and 
mistress, and I have need of your counsels." — "As I am the 
oldest one in the house, you can rely on me," he replied. 

I can truly say that every one was pleasant to me. .A t I 
had charge of the distribution of the bran and oats an'l L 



24 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

each one paid court to me so as to be sure of good measure. 
M. Potier scolded me when he found bran left in the troughs. 
"■ My horses are too fat ; I must see to it that this does not 
happen again. They must not give them such big feeds." — 
" Tell me the quantity of bran and oats, and I will measure it 
out myself. They take their baskets and go to the mill to hll 
them. Hereafter not one of them shall step his foot there. 
Each man's feed shall be placed at his stalls." — " That is a 
good idea," said my master. When the wagoners and farm- 
hands returned, and found each man's feed measured out, they 
asked, " Who measured out our feed ? " — " You got me a 
scolding. The master himself measured the bran and the 
oats, and told me to allow no other person to do it, and I 
shall see to it, yon may be sure." 

The next day two big farmers came to breakfast. M. Potier 
rang for me, and said, " Go to my cabinet, and bring me ten 
bags of money." I brought them. Good Lord, what piles of 
crowns there were in those bags ! I stood hat in hand. 
"Jean," said he, "have the nags saddled. We shall go away 
with these gentlemen." And madame said, "Dress yourself 
neatly. Here is a handkerchief and a cravat." She was so 
good as to arrange my dress, and said, "Now go, my little 
fellow, you are all right." 

How proud I was ! I brought out my master's horse, and 
held the bridle. This flattered him, in presence of the gentle- 
men : he told me so afterwards. They all mounted and started 
off. I followed behind, plunged in my own little reflec- 
tions. We went to a fine farm, where our horses were put in 
the stable, and I remained in the courtyard looking at the 
beautiful mows of wheat and hay. A servant came to call me 
to dinner. I excused myself with thanks. But the master of 
the house came and took me by the arm, and said to my 
master, " Have him placed near you at the table." I was not 
at my ease. After the first course, I rose from the table. 
"Where are you going?" said the host. "M. Potier has 
permitted me to retire." — "Then Ave excuse you." 

I was flattered at being seated at a table so well appointed. 
I shall always remember it. After dinner, the farmer's wife 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK, 



25 



invited me to see lier dairy. I never saw anything so neat. 
There were spigots everywhere. " Every fortnight," said she, 
''I sell a wagon-load of cheeses. I have eighty cows." She 
took me into the dining-room to show me her cooking arrange- 
ments. Everything was bright and clean. The table and 
benches were all polished. Scarcely knowing what to say to 
this kind woman, I remarked, " I will tell Madame Potier of 
all that I have seen." — " We go to her house three times 
during the winter to dine and spend the evening. How 
pleasant M. and Madame Potier are in their own house ! " 

The gentlemen 
then came in, and 
I retired. M. Po- 
tier beckoned to 
me and put twenty- 
four sous in my 
hand. •' Give that 
to the stable-boy ; 
have the horses 
saddled, we must j 
go." Our two nags 
were brought out. 
The handsome 
farmer's wife said 
to M. Potier, "Your 
servant's horse is beautiful. It would just suit me. If my 
husband were as gallant as he should be, he would buy it for 
me, for mine is very old." — "Very well," said the latter, "we 
will see about it. Do you want to try it ? Have your saddle 
put on it, and get on. You can see how it goes." 

The side-saddle was brought. I said, " Madame, he is very 
gentle, you can mount without fear." 

So madame mounted, and started off at a trot, leading first 
with the right foot, and then with the left, saying, " He has 
an easy trot. Do, husband, make me a present of this nag." 
— "Well, M. Potier, she must have it," said her husband. 
"We will arrange it. How much will you take for it ? " — 
"Three hundred francs." — " That's fair. There, wife, you 




26 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

are satisfied ; now you must give the boy his fee." — "I will 
at once. Come here," said she to me. She put six francs in 
my hand, and made me put my saddle on her old horse. 
Then we started off at a good trot. What a happy day it had 
been for me ! M. Potier said to me, " I am very well pleased 
with you." — " Thank you, sir. The lady showed me her 
dairy and her kitchen arrangements. How nice it all was ! 
They are true friends ; and the lady is not proud." 

ISText day, the old horse was sent for, and M. Potier said 
to me, " You must take the one we brought from your 
country. To-morrow we shall go and put the flour in bags. 
We shall have to take a hundred bags to Paris. You must 
hold the bushel measure. I will show you how. To-morrow 
you must drink your wine without water. You must learn to 
do everything. Here you will never do the work of a servant, 
but I will teach you how to do various kinds of work. I 
want you to know how everything is done." 

The next morning, he introduced me to the miller, and said 
to him, '' Baptiste, here is Jean, I wish you to show him how 
to handle the bushel measure. He will be at your disposal 
whenever you need him, and you will find him always willing 
to work." — " But, sir, is he strong enough to handle the 
bushel measure ? " — " Do not fear, I will stand by and see to 
that." 

Then M. Potier took the bushel measure and showed me. 
" This is the way," said he ; and when I wanted to take the 
measure in my own hands, ''No," said he, "let me finish this 
bag." Then I took hold of the measure, and handled it as if 
it had been a feather. After I had filled my first bag, Baptiste 
said to M. Potier, "We shall make a man of him." — "I will 
help you," said my master. " That is unnecessary," said 
Baptiste, " we two can manage it." 

So I did my best, under the direction of this somewhat 
stern man. We worked all day. How my sides ached ! We 
had only made fifty loads, and we were obliged to go at it 
again the next morning. At last, however, we finished, and I 
had done myself credit. 

My master and mistress, perceiving some jealousy towards 




" Look between the two ears of your lead horse, at the points I have 
showed you." — Page 27. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 27 

me on the part of the other servants, took advantage of my 
absence to relate to them my misfortunes. They told them 
that I had not been born to be a servant, and that my father 
was wealthy, and had lost four of his children. " I," said M. 
Potier, "found this one. The others are lost. I want him 
to learn how to do everything." — "I will show him how to 
handle the plough,'-' said the head farm-hand. " Very well, I 
shall be obliged to you." — "I will take charge of him when- 
ever you wish." — " Take him under your charge. I confide 
him to you. Do not let him fatigue himself: he is very 
energetic." — "Do iiot be anxious. I will show him how to 
sow grain, and I will give him my three horses." 

That evening I came back after carrying invitations to three 
different places, and brought back the replies. When I 
came to the table, my master and mistress asked me a good 
many questions about the persons to whom I had taken the 
invitations. I told them that everywhere refreshments had 
been offered me, but that I had not accepted anything. I saw 
all the servants looking at me. 

The head farm-hand said at the table, " Jean, if you wish, I 
will take you with me to-morrow, and I will show you how to 
make a furrow with my plough." — "Ah, you are very kind. 
Father Pron" (that was the good man's name) ; "if monsieur 
will permit me, I will go with you." — " No," said M. Potier, 
"we will go together." 

As we went along, my master told me that this good man 
had offered of his own accord to teach me to plough, and he 
added, " You must take advantage of his offer, for he is the 
best ploughman in the country." When we arrived, my master 
said to him, " Here is your pupil : try to make a good farm- 
hand of him." — "I will take charge of him, sir." — " Come, 
let us see, show him how to make the first furrow." Then 
Father Pron harnessed up his plough, putting his three horses 
in a line, one before another, and made me take note of certain 
distant points, and other points intermediate. Then he said 
to me, "Look between the two ears of your lead horse, at the 
points I have showed you : do not look at your plough, hold 
your reins tight, and keep your eye on your three points of 



28 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

sight. As soon as you pass by one of them, look to the 
next." 

As soon as I reached, the end of the field, I looked at my 
first furrow. It was straight. "That is very well," said 
M. Potier, " it does not waver. I am satisfied ; that will do 
very well ; go on." He had the kindness to stay with me two 
hours, and then took me back to the house, where madame 
was expecting him. " Well," said she, '' how about the plough, 
how did he manage it ? " — '' Very well. I assure you, Pron 
is delighted Avith him ; he will make a good farm-hand." — 
" So much the better^ poor child." — " That was a good idea 
of Pron's showing him how to handle the plough. I shall have 
him taught how to sow grain. He shall begin by sowing 
vetch, and afterwards he can sow wheat." 

The next day I perceived that all the servants were specially 
gracious to me. I did not understand the reason of this, but 
it was because they had heard my history from my master 
and mistress ; every one had in consequence become a friend 
to me. M. Potier had seven children. I used to go to the 
boarding-schools for them, and take them back again. Those 
were holidays for me and for them. I was with them wher- 
ever they went, whether on foot or in the carriage. I settled 
all the little squabbles between the girls and their brothers. 

One day M. Potier said to me, " We shall start to-morrow 
for the fair at Eeims. I want some horses to sell in Paris. 
They must be well-matched, as they are for some of the peers 
of France.^ They wish them to be well-trained, and four or 
five years old. You will have a chance to try your skill." 
He called his horse-trader and said to him, " I want you to go 
with me on horseback to-morrow morning to the fair at Reims. 
I want fifty horses. Here is a list of the sizes and colors. I 
don't need to say anything more to you, you know your 
business." 

M. Huze was notified to be ready to go with us, and told 
to take with him a servant to lead the horse which was to 
carry the valises. AVe started at noon, and reached Reims 

1 There were no peers then; but the sequel shows that he was speaking of the 
Directory, which was more or less known in the country districts. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 



29 



three days before the fair. M. Potier's old groom scoured 

the country round for horses which might be suitable for our 

purposes, and returned with the description of thirty, upon 

which he had already paid an instalment. The old fellow 

said, " I think I have done well. I have a list of a hundred 

horses that I have spoken for, and I have 

.-' . .'C^; -/. - ;- taken down the names of their owners." 

:' '%^^<ff:' The fair lasted 

'^"^ three days. There 

^^ : ' '^ / were in all fifty- 

,^ ^ "-^ -^^^ eight horses. We 

, -1 ^^^^ ^ .^^ ^ had the pick of the 

fair. The gentlemen 
were well pleased 
with their trip; in 




two days everything had been accomplished, and we were on our 
way back to Coulommiers, where we arrived without accident. 
Then I was put to my wits' end to train all those horses. 
Two days after we reached home the training began; twenty 
horses a day were brought out with halters on their heads. 
How they reared ! But at last they were conquered and made 
obedient. There was not a day of rest during the whole 



30 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

month of training. We trained them to pleasure-cars, to 
cabriolets, and under the saddle. How glad they were after- 
wards to stretch themselves on their straw ! They slept like 
beggars who had their wallets full of bread. We took them 
to the fields, where at first they were ill at ease in the 
ploughed ground. I rode first one and then another, and was 
very strict with all those gay creatures. I punished the 
unruly, and petted the gentle ones. This training lasted two 
months without intermission. At the end of that time I was 
worn out; my lungs were affected, I spit blood, but I had 
acquitted myself with honor. 

M. Potier wrote to those distinguished personages in Paris 
that their horses were ready. Instead of returning an answer 
by letter, they came themselves, in beautiful open carriages, 
with servants in livery. Their horses were put in the stables, 
and M. Potier, hat in hand, led them to the dining-hall, and 
madame appeared. What a fine manner she had ! Those 
portly gentlemen arose and bowed to her. She retired, and 
ordered refreshments. She asked if the gentlemen would do 
her the honor to dine with her, and they replied that they 
would do so with pleasure. The dinner was magnificent. 
M. Potier called me to him and said, "Tell all the grooms to 
have the horses ready. I shall bring these gentlemen to look 
at them." I gave the orders, and everything was in readiness. 
The gentlemen wished to look over the establishment, with 
which they were charmed, and then went to the stables to 
have the horses brought out. "There they are," said M. 
Potier, " all in a row. Bring them out." 

They called for number one, with snaffle-bridle and blanket. 
The horse was handed over to me, and I made him trot. 
" Mount him," said the gentlemen. I made him walk a few 
paces, holding him by the bridle, and then getting a good 
hold, I sprang on his back so quickly that they scarcely saw 
me mount. I made him trot, and then presented him before 
the gentlemen, who praised him, saying, "Very good." — 
"Number two," said my master. The horse was brought to 
me. "Mount him," said the gentlemen, "'walk, trot. That 
will do. Bring another." 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 31 

And so on, till they had seen twelve. They asked me, 
•' Are they all as well trained as these twelve ? " — " I assure 
you they are." — " That will do, then. This young man rides 
■^yell." — " He is pretty plucky," said my master. " To-morrow 
we will hitch them to the pleasure-car. Have you suitable 
harness?" — "Everything is at hand." — "Well, we have 
had enough for to-day. We should like to see the town." — 
" Would you like to have us put the horses to your carriage ? " 
— " Yes, that would be better. We ask your permission to 
bring two friends back with us." — " Whatever is agreeable 
to you. Jean, put the horses to the open carriage." 

Then they started off. My master was well pleased. 
"Jean," said he, "we will do a good job to-day ; all goes well. 
You have done yourself credit. I want you to wait at table, 
so dress yourself with care. Go, consult my wife. You must 
go to the town for things I have ordered ; have your hair 
dressed, and put on your Sunday clothes." I returned, well 
powdered. Madame explained my duties to me, and when 
the table was set, she went and made a magnificent toilet. 
How beautiful she was ! 

The gentlemen returned at six o'clock. There were six of 
them. My master received them hat in hand. "Well, sir, 
we have done as we said, we have brought you two guests." — 
"You are welcome, gentlemen." My master recognized the 
sub-prefect and the procureur of the Republic. They sat 
down to the table. Madame did the honors; nothing was 
wanting, neither I, with my napkin on my arm, nor the 
gentlemen's footmen, who stood behind their masters. They 
all ate without speaking during the first course. One of the 
footmen acted as carver, and gave us the meats already cut 
up, which we handed to the gentlemen, and which they often 
refused. For the second course, there was an enormous pike 
and delicious crabs. " Ah, madame," said one of the guests, 
" this is a great rarity." — " It is indeed," said all of them. 
But the prefect added, " M. Potier has a splendid pond. He 
gets magnificent eels from it." And thus the praises re- 
sounded on all sides. The champagne came on ; every one 
became lively. My master said, " I laid in a little stock of it 



32 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

as I came through Epernay." — " It is perfect," said the sub- 
prefect. 

When the dessert was brought in, the servants were sent 
out of the room, and madame asked permission to withdraw 
for a moment. " Certainly, madame," they replied. Madame 
gave her orders, and then said to her husband, " Would these 
gentlemen like some punch to finish the evening ? " — "That 
would go very well indeed." The sub-prefect said, ''I beg 
that you ^ill use my house as a stopping-place ; and I invite 
you and your husband, madame, to be so kind as to dine with 
me. To-morrow we will come to see your beautiful horses." 

The gentlemen came at noon to see them harnessed up. 
Everything was ready. They looked on, following the list. 
" Take both the pleasure-car and the open carriage, that will 
save time. Lead the horses out by fours." We soon had 
them hitched up. I drove the pleasure-car, and the head 
groom the open carriage. " Drive around in front of the 
house, so we can see you." — " They are very handsome," said 
the gentlemen. '' Are they all as well broken as these four ? " 
— " Yes, gentlemen," answered M. Potier. " Would you like 
to see a very beautiful horse ? If so, I Avill show you one I 
went wild over at Reims." — " Let us see him." — '' Jean, go 
bring him." He was all ready. I brought him out before the 
gentlemen. " Ah ! " they exclaimed, " how handsome he is. 
Make him mount him." 

I said to the footman, "Take hold of my foot, so I can 
spring up ; he is too high." When I was on the back of this 
proud creature, I made him walk and trot, and then presented 
him. "Very well," said the master to his footman, "mount 
him, so I can see him better." 

. The young man was more skilful than I. How beautifully 
he managed him ! " Lead him here ; that will do." The 
footman presented him to his master, hat in hand. "Mon- 
sieur," said he, "his gaits are very easy." — "I have found 
an owner for him," said the peer of France. "He will suit 
the president of the Assembly ; put him at the head of your 
list. All your horses are accepted. I will send you an order 
when I wish you to start for Paris. Come Avith them your- 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 33 

self, and this young man will accompany you as guide. If he 
would like to enter my service, I will employ him." — " Thank 
you, sir, but I will not leave my master." — "Very well, I 
will give you your fee." They got into their carriage, and 
bowing to my master and mistress drove off. " At six o'clock, 
without fail," called out the sub-prefect. My master ordered 
the carriage to be read}^ at five o'clock. "Jean," said he, 
"dress yourself, you are to drive." 

My master and mistress were received with cordiality by 
all the gentlemen. All the town authorities dined with them 
that day, and my mistress's seat was beside the host. The 
party was kept up till midnight, and the next day they set 
out for Paris. M. Potier received an order to start on Friday 
so as to reach the Ecole Militaire on Sunday, where they 
would meet him at noon precisely, and receive the horses. 
My master informed M. Huze that all the horses had been 
sold. " Can it be possible ! " said he. 

We set out next day at six o'clock with ninety-three horses 
and a wagon-load of bran for the journey. I led the hand- 
some horse alone. At ten o'clock we reached the Ecole 
Militaire, where we found an aide-de-camp and equerries. 
We fed and groomed the horses, and blackened their feet 
nicely. At noon all was in readiness. 

The aide-de-camp made provision for our breakfast, and set 
a guard of the servants. M. Huze breakfasted with the aide- 
de-camp, and my master went off to inform the noble gentle- 
men that their horses were ready. At two o'clock precisely, 
all those portly fellows descended from their carriages and 
went to look at the horses, ordering them out in sets of four. 
"Those are handsome horses," said the president, "now you 
can renew your supply for the carriages. Where is the one 
you spoke to me about ? Have him brought out." 

I brought him to the aide-de-camp, who mounted the proud- 
looking animal, put him through his gaits, and took him to 
the president. "That's a fine horse," said he, "take him 
back." The aide-de-camp then retired with M. Potier and M. 
Huze to provide for our dinner, and meantime men were sent 
to groom the horses, a man for every four horses. 



34 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



The gentlemen sold twenty of their own horses to my 
master at the price fixed by the horse-traders. After this 
splendid transaction was completed, he sent me back with the 
gentlemen's fine carriage horses. M. Potier and M. Hnze 
remained a Aveek in Paris settling np their accounts. They 
were invited to the house of the great 
peer of France who had been enter- 
tained at Coulommiers. In order to 
assist the gentlemen in choosing their 
teams from among the new horses, it 
was decided that each should draw by 
lot, four at a time, and that 
each should fee the servants. 

These gentlemen were so 
pleased with the fair dealing 




-^T:r,af^L^ 



of my master that the president spoke of him to the minister 
of war. The latter sent for M. Potier to offer him an order 
of two hundred horses for the artillery service. " There is the 
price and the size. How soon could you furnish them ? " — 
"I can deliver them in two months, sir." — "I can assure you 
they are very strict as to Avhat horses are received. Those 
which are rejected will be left on your hands." — "That is 
all right, you have warned me." — '' They will be received at 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 35 

the Ecole Militaire. You know the age : from four to five 
years, and no stallions. Are you able to advance the money 
for the purchase ? " — " Yes, sir." — " Where will you get 
them ? " — " FrOm Normandy and the Lower Rhine." — " Ah ! 
very well, that is a good stock." 

M. Potier arrived at Coulommiers in excellent spirits, and 
found his twenty horses in the best possible condition. " I 
should not know them," said he. "We must take them to 
the fair at iSTangis, we shall be able to sell them. They were 
bought for a mere song, and we can make fifty per cent on 
them. Have them ready to-morrow, and we will be ready at 
six o'clock. There is no time to lose. We shall have to go 
to Normandy ; I have taken an order from the minister of 
war." 

The fair at Nangis was a success, and the horses were all 
sold. M. Potier said, " I have doubled my money." Pour 
days after, he set out for Caen in Normandy, where he made 
some of his purchases. He sent them home, and we went on 
to Colmar, where he made more good bargains, and at Stras- 
bourg he bought all the rest that he needed. M. Huze was 
commissioned to take all the horses home. My master went 
to Paris, and informed the minister that in a fortnight his 
horses would arrive. "Very well," said the minister, "have 
them brought direct to Paris, you will save much expense. 
Give orders at once to have them sent on ; you have been very 
prompt. Give me notice, and lose no time." 

M. Potier took the diligence, had the three hundred horses 
brought to Paris, and wrote to his wife to start me off for 
Saint Denis with a wagon-load of bran, as the horses would 
stop there four days to rest. I was fortunate enough to 
arrive first at Saint Denis, and had everything ready for 
them. We had time in the four days to put new shoes on all 
the liorses, and when we reached the Ecole Militaire, they 
looked as fresh as if they had just stepped out of a band- 
box. 

The load of bran was well paid for. All the horses were 
received. I was four hours trotting them out before the 
artillery officers, inspectors, and a general, but I got no fee 



36 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

for myself. I was greatly disappointed at this. My master 
said to me, " You shall lose nothing by it. I will make you a 
present of a watch." Accordingly, he gave me a beautiful 
one, and also two hundred francs for the horses of the repre- 
sentatives, and two louis for the handsomest horse. What a 
fortune it was for me ! When I reached home I gave all my 
money to my mistress, and the next Sunday she made me a 
present of six cravats. My master said, " My two trips have 
been w^orth thirty thousand francs to me." He had also dis- 
posed of five hundred bags of flour. 

We resumed our usual employments. I grew strong and 
intelligent. I rode the most fiery horses and broke them in. 
I also did more ploughing, and made my farm-hand master a 
present of a blouse beautifully embroidered on the collar, 
with which he was much pleased. At sixteen I could lift a 
bag like a man. At eighteen I could lift a bag weighing three 
hundred and twenty-five. Nothing daunted me, but the posi- 
tion of a servant began to be exceedingly distasteful to me. 
My thoughts turned towards a soldier's life. I often saw 
fine-looking soldiers with long sabres and handsome plumes, 
and the sight of them would set my little head working all 
night. Afterwards I would reproach myself, — I who was so 
fortunate already. Those soldiers had turned my head. I 
cursed them. Then the love of work would resume its power 
over me, and I would think no more about them. 

The farmers came from every direction to deliver the grain 
sold to M. Potier. Each farmer had a sample of his wheat at 
the house. " Jean," my master would say, " go, bring me ten 
money-bags." How many bags of a thousand francs went out 
of that cabinet of his ! This went on till Christmas came. 

I used up a big pile of a hundred bags in two months. 
Then my master said to his wife, " Write your invitations for 
this day week. I am going to Paris. I am going in the open 
carriage. We shall go and see our children, and Jean will 
bring some empty sacks, for there is a great deal of money 
due me. We will return Saturday, and on Sunday you can 
give your grand dinner." — '' You must bring me some salt- 
water fish," said my mistress, "and whatever you wish for 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 37 

two dishes of meat, and some oysters." — " Very well, 
madame." 

The money had all been received and well invested by Thurs- 
day. " See what good luck you have brought me," said my 
master. " All our business is transacted satisfactorily. We 
will make our purchases, and start for home to-morrow." 

We arrived at five o'clock. My mistress was delighted that 
we came so early. The next day at five o'clock open carriages 
and jaunting-cars came in from every direction. I did not 
know which to attend to first. " Jean, go to town and bring 
M. and Madame Brodart and their daughter." — "Jean, go 
back again immediately for my son-in-law and my daughter." 
And I made the carriage spin along the road, with the horses 
always at a gallop. "Jean, you must wait on the table." 
And poor Jean was everywhere. 

The party was magnificent, and my mistress put by a 
portion of the dainties for me. At eleven o'clock I was told 
to be ready to take everybody home. I began at midnight, 
and made three trips, which were worth eighteen francs to 
me. My master and mistress called me in to give me some- 
thing to drink. "Take a good glass of our own wine and a bit 
of cake ; we are much pleased with you." — " Ah, I have put 
his portion aside," said madame. The next day I received 
my good things, which I divided with my comrades ; and I 
took the bushel measure, and went with the miller to Paris to 
bag flour for eight days. And so I learned to do all sorts of 
things. 

My mistress begged me to pay great attention to her garden. 
At first I made her a pretty arbor at the bottom of it, in front 
of the gate, and laid off two beautiful flower-beds. I dug a 
walk four inches deep, so as to set off my beds, and replaced 
the earth I dug out with sand. . 

My master and mistress came out to see me. "Well, 
Jean," said my master, " are you going to make us a road in 
our garden ?" — " No, sir, but a fine walk." — "You cannot 
do that all alone, I will call the gardener." — "But, sir, the 
worst part is done." — "What do you mean by that?" — 
^'See the three lines I have made, and the sticks I have 



38 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

driven down ; that is the middle of my walk." — " You have 
taken all my Avagon lines." — "I could not make a straight 
line without them." — "That is a fact." — "At the last stick 
near the arbor, I shall make a basket for madarae." — " Ah ! 
that is a good thought, Jean. It is an excellent idea to make 
me a basket." — "I must have some box to plant along the 
Avalk, and a great deal of sand, and some plank to make 
benches in madame's arbor." — "And what will you make for 
your master ? " — "The master will sit beside the mistress." 

— "Well, go to work; but, Jean, where will you get the 
sand?" — "I have found it, sir." — "'Where ?" — "Under 
the little bridge near the place where the horses go to water. 
I have just been there, and I found it three feet deep." — 
"You will have to draw it up." — "aSTo, sir; we can load up 
under the bridge this summer; you know that all the bend of 
the river is dry, and we can drive out by the watering-place." 

— " That is so." — "' We shall need about twenty loads. You 
see the walk is eight feet wide." — " Wife," said my master, 
" call your gardener, for Jean is going to make a road in your 
garden." — " Please, madame, will you send me some box and 
rose-bushes to plant along the walk ? " 

The gardener came at evening, and madame brought him 
into the garden and said, " Jean, come and show your work." 
The gardener was surprised. "Well," said she, "what do 
you think of Jean's idea ? " — " Why, madame, it is beauti- 
fully laid out. You can walk four abreast on the walk, and 
the children will not tread on the borders." — " Very true," 
said she. "But you come to-morrow, for he will kill himself. 
He took it into his head to do this to please me." — " Madame, 
he has much taste. It is very well designed. We will make 
you a beautiful garden. We must have forty tall rose-trees, 
and some box for the walk and the basket. Your garden will 
be finished in a fortnight. The sand is so convenient." — 
"But do not leave Jean to work alone. He will hurry so 
that he will make himself ill." — "I know it, I will take care 
of him." — "Be sure you do, for I found him with his shirt 
all wet with perspiration." 

Then madame went away, and the gardener said to me, " I 




" TluTi' wQw only tour suitabK' horses to be found in the neighbor- 
hood." — Page 41. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK, 



39 



like the way you have begun your work. We will arrange a 
little surprise for her in front of the arbor. Let us make four 
side beds, and plant four Persian lilacs in them, and honey- 
suckle all around, and paint the benches green. That will be 
lovely. We must ask madame not to come out to see her 
garden for eight days." So that evening I told her that the 
gardener said she would please not come out to see her garden 
for eight days. " Well," said M. Potier, '•' I am going to Paris 
to dispose of some flour and see our children." — " Ah, that is 
very good of you." — "I shall return on Saturday, and I will 
see this tomfoolery of Jean and the gardener, after I have 
found out whether my 
big representative is 
pleased with his horses 
or not." 

He returned satisfied 
with the reception 
given him by the rep- 
resentative, who said 
to him, '•'! am coming 
with my wife to see 
you in the spring. I 
have spoken to her of 
your lady, and she de- 
sires to make her ac- 
quaintance." — " I hope 
you will let us know beforehand." 
not surprise madame, who entertains so well." 

My master and mistress returned, and were surprised to 
see the great walk finished. " Oh, it is lovely ; I am delighted ; 
it is beautifully done. One can walk about and sit down. 
See these nice benches. Jean will ruin us with his fancies." 

— '• Do not say a word to him for a week, until he has fin- 
ished my garden. Pray do not. I wish to have it gravelled." 

— " Well, we will give Jean a surprise ; we will turn off the 
water which flows under the little bridge, and he can get as 
much gravel as he likes. He shall not always be the smart- 
est." — "He will lauarh," said madame. 




I will do so : we must 



40 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

At the end of the week the garden was finished, and I went 
in to say, " Master and mistress, your garden is finished. You 
can come out and see it. Ah ! if I only had some gravel it 
would be beautiful." — " Well, Jean, you shall have some to- 
morrow ; my husband has turned the water on to the other side 
of the bridge, and left the gravel dry. To-morrow you shall 
have two carts and some men to load them; you will only 
have the trouble of putting it on the walk." — " Ah, madame, 
that finishes it. In four days all will be completed." 

My master and mistress watched us from the windows 
without coming out. The gardener went and told them that 
all was done. " Come, wife, let us go out and see it." There 
I stood beside the gate, hat in hand, with my rake on my 
shoulder. M. Potier took me by the arm, and patted me on 
the shoulder; "Jean," said he, "you have made your mistress 
happy, and I am very glad. This looks much better than the 
grass which was here before." — " It is beautiful," said madame. 
" If your fashionable people from Paris come to see you, you 
can bring them out to Avalk around." — " You shall see no 
more grass in your walks." 

I continued to work in the mill, I ploughed, I did every- 
thing, and especially I trained horses, 'hlj master received a 
letter from Paris ordering him to come at once to the repre- 
sentative at the Luxembourg on business. "Jean, my boy, 
we must start for Paris to-morrow morning. I think they 
want some horses." — "If that is so, it will pay for our tom- 
foolery of a flower-garden." We set out at five o'clock; at 
eleven we were in Paris. My master went to the address 
given ; the chief of the Directory ^ said to him, " We want 
twenty horses of first-rate size, all entirely black, without a 
spot. The price will be forty-five louis. Where can you get 
them ? " — " In the Pays de Caux and at the fair at Beaucaire. 
I always go there for horses of that size." — " Very Avell, go 
at once. When can you deliver them ? " — " I must have 
three months, and I cannot guarantee to be ready even then ; 
horses of that size are hard to find." 

1 That is to say, some principal functionary of the administration of the 
Directory. 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 41 

We were soon back again at Coulommiers, and my master 
said, "We must start for Normandy, and we will return by 
way of Beaucaire, so as to attend the fair. I will have Fran9ois 
come to me at once, so I may give him my orders, and will 
tell my wife that we are going." We went first to Caen, where 
several horses were offered us. There were only four suitable 
horses to be found in the whole neighborhood, and they asked 
fifty louis for them. " Very well," said my master, " take 
them to the fair ; we will see about it." We visited the 
whole Pays de Caux, found magnificent farms, and a fine 
breed of horses, and selected four very handsome ones. The 
fair at Caen was well suited to our purposes. My master 
bought six superb horses, but we needed ten more. The 
people of the Pays de Caux are extremely handsome, par- 
ticularly the women, with their great beautiful high head- 
dresses. The little women even look tall, for their bonnets 
are almost a foot high, and this makes their faces seem small. 
Both the people and the animals are magnificent. 

Then we set out for Beaucaire, where we found ten horses. 
I had never seen such splendid fairs ; strangers from all over 
the world were there. The city is built in a plain, and we 
found cafes, restaurant-keepers, and everything in the best 
style. Millions are employed in business there, and the fair 
lasts six weeks. My master's' purchases being completed, we 
started on our return, having first collected the horses, and 
sent them on to Coulommiers. This was a long trip ; we had 
been two months away from home. How glad madame would 
be to see us again ! 

My master said to me, "I must make a purchase for the 
horses. I shall have blankets and ear-pieces made for them ; 
that will set them off. We will have them made of striped 
stuff. Go at once to M. Brodart. It is a necessary expense 
toward presenting them properly." In a week all was done. 
I was proud to see my fine horses adorned with such beautiful 
blankets. Then M. Potier set out at once for Paris, rendered 
the representative ^ an account of- his purchase, and informed 

1 All these appellations of chief of the Directory, representative, peer of France, 
portly fellows, etc., in the mind of honest Coignet referred only to one person. 



42 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

him that the twenty horses were at his house, and if my lord 
wished to see them he could do so. " Are they handsome ? " 
said he. "We will come to your house on Sunday at two 
o'clock. There will be four of us, one of ray friends and his 
wife and mine; tell Madame Potier that I shall bring two 
ladies with me." 

At two o'clock their handsome post-chaise stood before our 
door. My master and mistress received them, and conducted 
them immediately to the dining-hall, where a superb collation 
was served. The ladies were delighted with madame's kind 
reception. M. Potier had invited some friends of the repre- 
sentative. The dinner was elegant. Madame pleased the 
ladies by asking them to take a walk in her garden, and the 
gentlemen went to take a look at the fine horses. The 
blankets had a wonderful effect. " Your horses are extremely 
handsome, their height is superb ; our guards will be well 
mounted. I thank you very much, and I will write at once 
to the president of the Directory. They will be received at 
the Luxembourg. You can send them on in the next twenty- 
four hours. Two days of rest will be sufficient to put them 
in condition to be presented for examination ; our gentlemen 
will be satisfied when they see them. Leave their blankets 
on them, they look well with them on, and you shall be paid 
for them in addition. How much did they cost you ? " — 
"Four hundred francs." — "Very well, you shall be paid for 
all. Bring them out, so we can see them outside. They are 
finer than the horses of our grenadiers, these will do for the 
non-commissioned officers ; they are splendid animals. Send 
them off to-morrow ; it will take three days for the trip and 
two days for rest. I shall be in Paris in time to present 
thera to the officers." 

We reached the Luxembourg on the fourth day, and found 
all in readiness to receive us. The fine-looking non-commis- 
sioned officers and grenadiers surrounded us, took our horses, 
and put them in what seemed to me a palace. I had never 
seen such grand stables. M. Potier had us take off their 
blankets in order to groom them, and the grenadiers took 
charge of them. "You can leave them to our care," said an 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 43 

officer, " we will attend to them ; you can put the blankets on 
again afterwards." 

The next day M. Potier received an order to present his 
horses at one o'clock in the beautiful chestnut avenue in the 
garden. At two o^clock about twenty men arrived, who 
admired our horses and made them show their gaits. An 
officer came up to me and said, " Young man, I hear that you 
know how to ride." — "A little, sir." — "Well, let us see; 
mount the first one there. That will do." Then he took me 
to one of the quartermasters, and said to him, "Give your 
horse to this young fellow, and let him ride him." — " Thanks," 
said I to him. I was delighted. I started off at first at a 
walk ; then my master said, " Trot," and I came back at a 
trot. " Go again at a gallop." I flew like the wind. 

I drew my horse up before the gentlemen with all four of 
his feet in line. " How handsome that horse is," they said. 
" They are all equally so," said M. Potier. " If you wish, my 
boy will show them all for you." They consulted together 
for a moment, and then pointing out a horse which had seemed 
frightened, they had me called. " Young man," said the 
representative who had seen me at Coulommiers, "show this 
horse to these gentlemen ; mount ! " 

I made him trot, leading from each foot, and then galloped 
off as before. I brought him back, and they said, " He rides 
well. He is bold, your young man." M. Potier said to 
them, " It was he who trained my lord the President's hand- 
some horse ; no one could ride him ; he had to be led even on a 
level road ; and he made him as gentle as a lamb." The Presi- 
dent said to one of the officers, " Give this young man a louis 
for the horse he trained for me, and a hundred francs for 
these others : he ought to be encouraged." The officer said to 
the guards, " See how this boy manages a horse." I was 
handsomely feed by every one, and the soldiers shook hands 
with me, saying, " It is a pleasure to see you on horseback." 
— "Oh," said I, "I make them mind me. I punish the 
unruly and pet the gentle ones ; they are obliged to yield to 
me." 

Finally, M. Potier got through showing all of his twenty 



44 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

horses, Avliicli were all accepted, with their blankets as a 
separate item, and all the expenses of the journey were also 
defrayed. " Without that," said M. Potier to them, " I should 
lose by the transaction." They answered him, "We have 
perfect confidence in you ; the relays of horses which you 
have furnished us leave nothing to be desired." — " Thank 
you, gentlemen," said M. Potier. — " Make out three bills. 
They will make you three drafts, which will be paid you at 
the treasury. They will be signed by the treasurer of the 
government, and will be paid at sight. Meanwhile, I appoint 
you to receive six hundred horses Avhich are coming from 
Germany, suitable for chasseurs and hussars. Do you accept 
this ? You will receive them within eight or ten days. The 
fees will be three francs a horse, and this includes the serv- 
ices of your boy, who will ride them all, and be specially 
strict in training the German horses. You Avill receive notice 
as soon as they arrive." — "You may rely upon me." — "The 
officers will be there to receive their horses." 

M. Potier concluded his transactions, and we set out for 
Coulommiers, where he was heartily welcomed after this long 
absence of three months. All home affairs had been con- 
ducted as the master desired. "Well, my dear," said Madame 
Potier to her husband, "have you enjoyed your trip ? " — " I 
was delighted with those gentlemen. Everything turned out 
as well as possible. Jean surpassed himself in skilfulness. 
Every one remarked upon him. He has been asked to come 
with me to receive six hundred horses for a cavalry supply, 
and has been appointed to train them. Those gentlemen all 
included him in the fees they allowed me. You can make 
him your present, he deserves it. He carried off the palm 
from the grenadiers of the Directory for the management of 
horses." 

The next Sunday my mistress took me into the town and 
made me a present of a suit of clothes. " Send that to my 
husband, Avith the receipted bill." I was greatly flattered at 
this. M. Potier presented the package to me : " Here is the 
present which you have so well deserved. We must have his 
siiit made immediately. To-morrow we will resume our work 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 



45 



at the mill, and get a hundred bags of flour ready to send to 
Paris." The whole week was employed at the mill. On 
Sunday we reviewed our horses. My master and mistress 
went to dine in the town, and I entertained all the servants 
with an account of our travels, telling them of all I had seen 
in Paris. That evening I went for my master and mistress 
without their having ordered it. They were pleased at the 
attention, and I 
brought them home 
about midnight. 
The next day I re- ^. 
ceived my suit of 
clothes, everything 
complete. " Come, 
Jean, we must see 
if they fit well." 
They took me into 
their chamber, and 
presided over my 
toilet, exclaiming, 
" No one would ever 
recognize you." — 
" See," said madame, 
" here are some cra- 
vats and pocket- 
handkerchiefs. I 
have bought you a 
trunk to hold all 
your things." — 
"Master and mis- 
tress, I am over- 
whelmed by your kindness." On Sunday I dressed myself, 
and made my appearance before the household, looking as 
if I had just jumped out of a bandbox. All my companions 
stared at me from head to foot, and every one paid me com- 
pliments. I thanked them by a pressure of the hand, and I 
was ready to wait upon them all. 

Thus the years passed away in pleasant though laborious 




46 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

service, for I took part in everything, and watched over all 
the interests of the house, I thought constantly of my 
brothers and my sister, and especially of those two who had 
disappeared from home at so tender an age. I could not help 
shedding tears over the fate of those two poor little innocent 
ones, and often wondered what could have become of them. 
''Could that wicked woman have destroyed them?" This 
thought pursued me constantly, and I longed to go and satisfy 
myself, but dared not ask permission, lest I should lose my 
place. My presence was necessary at the house. I was 
obliged to be patient, and resign myself to fate. The years 
passed by without bringing me any tidings of them. My gay 
spirits suffered from this. I had no one to whom I could tell 
my troubles. 

I did a great deal of farm work, in which I became very 
skilful, and was considered so by all. At twenty-one, I could 
take the place of instructor in ploughing and in driving an 
eight-horse team. 

The orders came from Paris, and we were obliged to start 
at once for the Ecole Militaire, where we found a general and 
the officers of the hussars and chasseurs. My master was 
appointed by the general to review the horses, and his nomi- 
nation as inspector of the relay was confirmed. The next 
day, the horses, fifty in number, were brought to the Champ 
de Mars. I bought a pair of buckskin breeches and a broad 
belt to strengthen my loins. These cost me thirty francs. 

My master walked around with the general, who had me 
called up : '' You are the boy who has been appointed to ride 
the horses, are you ? Well, let us see. I am hard to please." 

— " Make yourself easy, general," said M. Potier, " he knows 
his business." — "Very well, mount; the cavalry horses first." 

— " Let him alone ; you will be quite satisfied with him. He 
is only very bashful." — "Very well, go on; begin with the 
one on the right, and go through them." 

I mounted the first, and so quickly that no one had time to 
see me do it. The horse shied several times. I gave him two 
cuts with my whip under his breast, and made him wheel 
about, and soon got him under control. I led him off at a 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 47 

trot, and brought him back at a gallop. I began again at a 
walk, as it is the gait most necessary to the cavalry. Then I 
dismounted, and said to the officer, " Mark this horse number 
one; he is good." I said to the veterinarian, "Examine the 
mouths of all the horses, and particularly their teeth. I will 
look at them afterwards." 

And so I went on. I divided them into three lots, and had 
them marked by the captain of chasseurs. When we came 
to the thirtieth, I asked for a glass of wine, which the general 
had them bring me, saying, "I have left you alone, young 
man. Tell me, why these different lots?" — "The first is 
for your officers, the second for your chasseurs, and the third 
is retired." — "How retired?" — "Well, general, I will ex- 
plain. The four horses of the third lot have been done up, 
and ought not to be accepted without examination by an 
expert. See how strict I am. This is on your account. ISTow 
shall I go on with my examination ? " — " Yes, I approve of 
your method, severe and just." 

Thus I continued at this work all day long. I rode fifty 
horses : six of the first lot and four of the second were bad. 
There were forty left for the chasseurs. When the officers 
saw what I was doing, they took me by the hand, and said, 
" You understand your business ; we shall not be cheated." — 
" There are," said I, " six perfect horses, they will do for the 
officers." The general sent for me to come to him as he stood 
with his aide-de-camp near M. Potier. "You have worked 
well. I watched you, and am satisfied with you. Go on as 
you have begun. You must be tired ; to-morrow we will 
examine the horses for the hussars, and you will Avork in the 
same way. At eleven o'clock, remember." — "Very well, 
general." — " Do you know how to write ? " — " No, general." 
"I am sorry for that. I would have taken you into my 
service." — "I thank you, sir. T shall not leave my master ; 
he has brought me up." — " You are a faithful boy." Then 
he called the officers, and said to them, " Take charge of this 
young man. Let him dine with you, he works for your 
interest. Do not allow the contractors to speak to him, and 
bring him to my house at nine o'clock. The inspector will 
dine with me." 



48 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I was cordially received by all the officers. The dinner 
passed off very gayly. At nine o'clock we went to the 
general's house, and coffee was served. I received the kind- 
est welcome possible from the general. '* To-morrow," said 
he, '' Ave will go and see the horses that you are to ride, and 
I will send one of the quartermasters, who rides well, to 
assist you. You will get through sooner." — "I will make 
him ride the mares." — " Why the mares ? " — '^ General, the 
mares are better than the geldings ; they are not so easily 
fatigued. I will examine them before he mounts them." — 
"I am pleased with your observation, let me tell you. I 
heartily approve." — " If your soldier is pleased with his 
mare, he shall put her in the first lot, and so on. I will do 
the same." — " Well, gentlemen, what do you think of all 
this ? We have fallen into good hands, and we shall have no 
more of those worthless horses, which will not last six 
months." — "I can be deceived, but I will do my best." — 
" Come, then, gentlemen, to-morrow at eleven o'clock pre- 
cisely." 

We took leave of the general, and my master put me into a 
carriage to go back to our hotel. "Jean," said he, "the 
general is pleased with you, he is really delighted. Try to 
do a good day's work to-morrow. As there will be two of 
you, he will doubtless be able to receive a hundred horses. 
That will help us a great deal." — "I will do my best, sir." 
The next day at six o'clock, we received a visit from the 
captain of hussars, and my master said to him, " Do me the 
kindness to accept a cutlet and a cup of coffee. We are about 
to be off, the cab is ready." — " Let us hurry ; the general is 
no jester." At half-past ten we were near the Champ de 
Mars, ready to examine the horses. My master said, " Have 
fifty horses ready." At eleven, the general arrived. We 
reviewed the horses, and rode them two at a time. 

Those horses were splendid : I was delighted with them, 
and I said so to the general, who also was satisfied. Only 
two in a hundred were rejected. The poor horse-traders were 
not so mortified as they had been the day before. In this 
way we received a hundred horses a day, and in nine days all 



FIRST NOTE-BOOK. 49 

"was done. I was highly commended by all the officers and by 
the general, who ordered thirty francs to be paid me for the 
ten rejected horses. I went with my master to thank the 
general, who said to ns, "I have made a report of the care 
you have taken in the choice of the horses for the officers, 
and of the reform which you instituted. It was on this 
account that I gave the thirty francs as a reward to your 
young man." I thanked him, and we went to settle up our 
business ; my master realized eighteen hundred francs from 
his trip, and we started the next day for Coulommiers. My 
master said to me, " We have done a iirst-rate piece of busi- 
ness, and every one is satisfied." 

I said to him, " If ever I am a soldier, I will do my best to 
get into the hussars ; they are so splendid." — " You must not 
think of that. We will see about it after a while ; that shall 
be my business. I warn you that the life of a soldier is not 
all rose-color." — " I am sure of it, consequently I have not 
gone into it ; if I ever leave you, it Avill be because I am 
obliged to." — " Very well, I am pleased to hear you say so." 

We reached home on Saturday, and Sunday everybody had 
a holiday. My master did not worry about me. I returned 
to my usual duties, but one day I was summoned to the 
mairie. There they asked me my name and Christian names, 
my profession and age. I answered that I was named Jean- 
Koch Coignet, and was born in Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, 
in the Department of the Yonne. " How old are you ? " — 
"I was born on the 16th of August, 1776." — "You can 
retire." 

This set my head to throbbing. "What in the devil did 
they want with me ? I had done nothing." I said this to 
my master and mistress, who replied, "They wish to enroll 
you for conscription." — " Am I then going to be a soldier ? " 
" Not yet, but this is one of the preliminary steps. If you 
wish, we will procure you a substitute." — " Thank you, I will 
think about it." I was overwhelmed by this piece of news. 
I should have been willing to start at once, but I had all the 
time till the month of August for reflection. My head was 
at work night and day. I saw myself about to leave the house 



50 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



where I had passed so many happy days, with such a good 
master and mistress, and such kind companions. 

Here I bring to a close the first part of my work, lest such 
details should grow tiresome. I am about to begin the 
history of my military career. Compared with that, my 
sorrowful early life was a bed of roses. 








SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 



DEPARTURE FOR THE ARMY. MY MILITARY LIFE UP TO THE 

BATTLE OF MONTEBELLO. 



On the sixth Eructidor, year VII., two gendarmes came 
and left with me a way-bill and an order to start for 
Eontainebleau the tenth Eructidor. I immediately made 
preparations for my departnre. My master and mistress 
wished to procure me a substitute. I thanked them with 
tears in my eyes. " I promise you that I shall bring back a 
silver gun, or die." It was a sad leave-taking. I was over- 
whelmed with kindness by the whole household. They 
accompanied me to the end of the road, and bade me good-by 
with many embraces. With iny little bundle under my arm, 
I reached Eozoy, the first military halting-place, where I 
spent the night. I took my billet, and jDresented it to my 
host, who took no notice of me whatever. Then I went out 
to buy something to make a stew, and the butcher gave it to 
me. I felt quite desolate when I saw that piece of meat in 
the palm of my hand. I gave it to my landlady, and asked 
her to have the kindness to have it cooked for me, and went 
to find some vegetables for her. At last I got my little stew, 



52 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

and by that time I liad won the good graces of my hosts, who 
were willing to talk to me, but I took no fancy to them. 

The next da,y I reached Fontainebleau, where some very 
unenthusiastic officers received us and put us in barracks 
which were in wretched condition. Our fine battalion was 
formed within a fortnight ; it numbered eighteen hundred 
men. As there was no discipline, a revolution at once 
occurred, and half of them left and went home. The chief of 
battalion reported them at Paris, and each man Avas allowed 
fifteen days to rejoin his battalion, or else be regarded as a 
deserter, and punished accordingly. General Lefebvre was 
immediately sent to organize us. Companies were formed, and 
grenadiers selected. I belonged to this latter company, which 
numbered a hundred and twenty-five men, and we were 
uniformed at once. We received an entire outfit, and imme- 
diately began to drill twice a day. The stragglers were brought 
back by the gendarmes, and we were brought into order 
again. 

Sunday was the decadi ^ for the whole battalion. We had 
to sing " La Victoire," and the officers flourished their sabres 
about ; the church resounded with them. Then we cried out, 
" Vive la Republique ! " Every evening, around the liberty- 
pole in the principal street, we had to sing, " Les aristocrates 
a la lanterne." It was very entertaining. 

This sort of life had lasted nearly two months, when a re- 
port was circulated in the newspapers that General Bonaparte 
had landed, and was on his way to Paris, and that he was a 
great general. Our officers went crazy about it, because the 
chief of our battalion knew him, and the whole battalion was 
delighted to hear it. We were reviewed, and our clothing 
examined. We were made to carry and present arms and 
charge bayonets. They undertook to make soldiers of us in 
two months. We had callouses on our hands from beating 
them on the butt-ends of our guns. All day long we were 
under arms. Our officers took us by the collars and examined 

I The ddcadi was the substitute for Sunday as the da}' of rest, but occurred only 
once in ten days. To sing " La Victoire " means here to sing the " Chant du 
Depart," which began with the words, " La victoire en chantant." . . . 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 53 

our clothing ; they took every precaution that ^ye should be 
lacking in nothing. 

At last a courier brought the information that Bonaparte 
would pass by Fontainebleau, and that he would spend the 
night there. We Avere kept under arms all day long, but he 
did not come. We were scarcely allowed time to eat. The 
bakers and innkeepers on the principal street did a good 
business. Videttes were placed in the wood, and every 
moment there was a cry of " Anx amies," and every one 
rushed out on the balconies, but all for nothing, for Bonaparte 
did not arrive till midnight. 

In the principal street of Fontainebleau, where he dis- 
mounted, he was delighted to see such a fine battalion. He 
called the officers around him, and gave them an order to set 
out for Courbevoie.-^ He got into his carriage again, and we, 
shouting " Vive Bonaparte," returned to our barracks to make 
up our knapsacks, wake up our washerwomen, and pay them off. 

We slept at Corbeil. The inhabitants received us as if we 
had been natives of that country, and the next day we started 
for Courbevoie, where Ave found the barracks in the most 
destitute condition, not even straw to sleep on. We were 
obliged to get trellises from among the vines to warm our- 
selves and boil our pots. 

We remained there only three days, as orders were sent 
us to go to the Ecole Militaire, where we were put in rooms 
which had nothing in them but straw mattresses, and at least 
a hundred men in each room. Then a distribution of car- 
tridges was made : three packages of fifteen cartridges each to 
each man, and three days after we were made to start for 
St. Cloud, where we saw cannons everywhere, and troopers 
wrapped in their cloaks. We were told that they were the 
gros talons.^ that they came down on the enemy, in a charge, 

1 This visit must have been made, not on his return from Egypt, but a little before 
the Coup d'Etat, which was about a month later. At a time wlien soldiers did not 
read the newspapers, it is not astonisliing that such mistakes were made. Some one 
told Coignet that the general was coming from Egypt, and he concluded that he had 
not been to Paris. IMoreover, the order to depart must have been merely transmitted 
and not given by Bonaparte. 

- Cuirassiers, so called because of their heavy boots. Tliey were afterwards called 
"gileis defer" (iron waistcoats), on account of their cuirasses. 



54 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGN ET. 

like a thunderbolt, and that they were covered with iron. 
But this was not really so. They had only ugly three-cornered 
hats with two iron plates in the form of a cross in front. 
These men looked like big peasants, with horses so large they 
made the earth shake, and great sabres four feet long. These 
were our heavy cavalrymen, who afterwards became cuiras- 
siers, and were called the '■'■ gilets de ferP At last the regi- 
ment reached St. Cloud. The grenadiers of the Directory 
and of the Five Hundred were in line in the front court ; a 
half-brigade of infantry was stationed near the great gate, 
and four companies of grenadiers behind the guard of the 
Directory. 

Cries of '•' Vive Bonaparte " were heard on all sides, and he 
appeared. The drums beat a salute ; he passed in front of the 
fine corps of grenadiers, saluted every one, ordered us into 
line of battle, and spoke to the officers. He was on foot, and 
wore a small hat and a short sword. He went up the steps 
alone. Suddenly we heard cries, and Bonaparte came out, 
drew his sword, and went up again with a platoon of grena- 
diers of the guard. Then the noise increased. Grenadiers 
were on the stairway and in the entrance. We saw stout 
gentlemen jumping out of the windows ;i cloaks, fine hats, and 
plumes were thrown on the ground, and the grenadiers pulled 
the lace from the elegant cloaks.'^ 

At three o'clock orders were sent us to start for Paris, but 
the grenadiers did not go with us. We were famishing. On 
our arrival brandy was distributed to us. The Parisians 
crowded around us to hear the news from St. Cloud. We 
could scarcely make our way through the streets to the 
Luxembourg, where we were quartered in a chapel at the 
entrance of the garden (we had to go up-stairs). To the left, 
after we mounted the stairs, was a great vaulted chamber, 
which they told us was the sacristy. Here they made us put 
up big kettles for four hundred soldiers. In front of the main 
building there were handsome linden trees ; but the beautiful 
square in front of the palace was covered with the ruins of 

1 These "stout gentlemen" were the representatives of the nation. 

2 The mantle and plumed cap then formed a part of the parliamentary dress. 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 55 

buildings. There was nothing left in this beautiful garden 
but the old chestnut trees, which are still there, and an outlet 
in the rear at the end of our chapel. It was pitiful to see 
that lovely garden utterly destroyed. 

Then a fine-looking grenadier rode up with the chief of 
battalion, who ordered us under arms to receive M. Thomas 
(or Thome) as lieutenant in the 96th half-brigade, and he also 
said to us, '' My comrade and I saved General Bonaparte's life. 
The first time he entered the hall, two men rushed upon him 
with two daggers, and it was my comrade and I who parried 
the blows. Then the general went outside, and they cried, 
' Outlaw him.' Whereupon he drew his sword, and ordered 
us to charge bayonets, and shouted, 'Clear the hall,' and 
called for his brother. All the web-footed creatures jumped 
out of the windows, and we were left masters of the hall." ^ 
He told us also that Josephine had given him a ring, worth 
full fifteen thousand francs, forbidding him to sell it, and 
saying she would attend to all his wants. 

Our whole fine battalion was finally incorporated in the 
96th half-brigade of the line, composed of old and experienced 
soldiers, and officers who were very strict. Our colonel was 
named M. Lepreux, a native of Paris, a good soldier, and kind 
to his officers. Our captain was named Merle, and he had all 
the qualities of a soldier. Strict, just, always present when 
rations were distributed to his grenadiers, on drill twice a 
day, strict in discipline ; he was present at meal-times. He 
also taught us to shoot. We were at work every moment of 
our time. In three months our companies were able to go 
through the drill in presence of the First Consul. 

I became very skilful in the use of arms. I was supple, 
and I had two good training masters who helped me on. 
They had examined me, and so had felt my belt-pockets ; they 
therefore paid court to me. I paid for their drams. It was 
necessary to deal in this way with these drunkards. How- 

1 This story is a little too exact. The armed force was sent at the requisition of 
the president of the Assembly. But a boasting grenadier is not always a historian. 
His epithet of" web-footed" had reference, doubtless, to the bows of ribbon on their 
shoes. 



56 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



ever, I had no reason to complain of them, for at the end of 
two months they put me to a severe test. They made me 
seek a quarrel, and that without pretext. '■' Come," said this 
swaggerer -^ to me, '' draw your sabre, and I will spill a little 
of your blood." — " All right, we will see, you puppy." — 
" Find your second." — ^' I have none." Then my old master, 
who was in the plot, said to me, '' Would you like me to be 
your second ? " — "I would, indeed, Father Palbrois." — " Be 







off, then," said he, "and no 
more ado ! " All four of us 
started out. We went a little ' " -^"^^ ~' 

way into the garden of the Luxembourg where there were two 
old tumble-down buildings, and they took me in between two 
old walls. There with my coat off I stood ready. ''ISTow, 
strike first," said I to him. — "I won't," he answered. " All 
right, look out." Then I rushed upon him, and gave him no 
time to recover himself. My master ran in between us, sabre 
in hand. I pushed him aside. '' Get away, let me kill him ! " 
— " Come, come, that will do ; shake hands, and we will go 
drink a bottle of wine." — "But that drop of my blood, doesn't 
he want it any longer ? " — " It was all a joke," said my master. 

1 I. e., the other party to the quarrel. 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 57 

I was now recognized as a good grenadier. I saw what they 
were after ; this was a trick to make me pay my scot, which 
I did with a good grace, and they set it down to my credit. 
The grenadier, who wanted to kill me in the morning, was my 
best friend. He paid me all sorts of attentions and rendered 
me any number of small services. My two masters pushed 
me forward ; four hours of drilling, two hours in the fencing 
school, making six hours daily. This life lasted three months, 
and I paid for many drams for these drunkards. Happily for 
me, M. and Madame Potier had filled my belt-pouch. I 
reaped the benefit of their goodness a long time. 

We passed the winter in Paris. The First Consul's review 
took place in the month of February, at the Tuileries ; the 
three half-brigades (24th light, 43d and 96th of the line) 
formed a division of fifteen thousand men, the command of 
which was given to General Chambarlhac. The First Consul 
put us through the evolutions, rode down the ranks and seemed 
satisfied. He called the colonels, and desired to see the con- 
scripts apart. The company of grenadiers of the battalion of 
Seine-et-Marne was brought out. He told our captain. Merle, 
to make us go through the evolutions before him. He was 
surprised. " But these must be old troops you are drilling ? " 
— " No," answered the captain, " 'tis a company of the aux- 
iliary battalion which has been formed at Fontainebleau." — "I 
am greatly pleased with this company ; send it back to the 
battalion. Hold yourselves in readiness to march." 

We received orders to set out for the camp of Dijon, which 
really had no existence, at least we never saw it. The whole 
division started for Corbeil, where Chambarlhac made us camp 
among the vines in the good department of Seine-et-Marne, 
which had made so many sacrifices for our battalion. We 
camped thus all along the route. From Auxerre he led us to 
St. Nitasse. The citizens were willing to lodge us, they 
brought us wagon-loads of wood and straw ; but all in vain, 
we were forced to burn their trellises and cut down their pop- 
lars. We were called " Chambarlhac's brigands." He, how- 
ever, never bivouacked with his soldiers. This life continued 
till we reached Dijon, where we were lodged among the citizens 
and remained there six weeks. 



58 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

General Lannes formed his advance guard, and set out for 
Switzerland. We were the last to leave Dijon for Auxonne, 
where we lodged. The next day we went to Dole where we 
only passed the night, and went on to Poligny. Thence we 
went to Morez. The next day we slept at Eousses, and thence 
to Nyon, where we brought all our little force together in a 
beautiful plain. We were reviewed by the First Consul, as- 
sisted by his generals, among whom was Lannes. We were 
put through the evolutions, and made to form a square. The 
Consul kept us occupied the whole day ; the next morning he 
marched us out, and started us for Lausanne, a very pretty 
village. The Consul passed the night there, and we were 
kindly received. 

Here one comes upon a wooded height which overlooks a 
wide extent of country, with Geneva on one hand and the 
shores of the lake on the other. As far as the eye can reach 
extends the wooded and rocky shore of that majestic lake, the 
water of which is always a deep blue. To the left a road winds 
along this beautiful shore, which is cultivated in the form of 
an amphitheatre. It is a series of espaliers from bottom to 
top. This shore is a source of great wealth to the whole coun- 
try ; it is a masterpiece of nature. Guides are needed through 
all the towns of Switzerland, for the country is woody and 
mountainous. The people are good to the soldiers ; we never 
started out Mdthout a good bit of ham wrapped in a paper. 
We had guides all along our route, for we were in danger of 
losing our way. 

Leaving Lausanne, we went around the end of the Lake of 
Geneva, and then went up the valley of the Rhone, and ar- 
rived at St. Maurice. Thence we started for Martigny. All 
these villages were as wretched as can possibly be imagined. 
We went into another valley, which might well have been 
called the valley of Hell. After that we left the valley of the 
Rhone, and went into the valley which leads to the St. Ber- 
nard, and came to the town of St. Pierre, situated at the 
foot of the gorge of the St. Bernard. This village was com- 
posed entirely of barracks covered with planks, and immense 
barns where we slept pell-mell. Here we dismounted our 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 



59 



entire park in the presence of the Consul. Each of our pieces 
was placed in a trough ; at the end of the trough there was a 
large mortise by which to drag our piece, managed by a strong 
and intelligent gunner with forty grenadiers under his orders. 
We had to obey in absolute silence every movement made by 
his piece. If he commanded "Halt," we could not budge; 
if he cried "Advance," we had to move on. He was our 
master. 

Next morning at daybreak all was ready, and rations of 
biscuits were distributed to us. I put them on a string and 




hung them around my neck 
(the necklace was very in- 
convenient), and we had 
two pairs of shoes given us. 
That very evening our can- 
noneer made up his teams, 
which were composed of forty grenadiers to each piece ; twenty 
to drag the piece (ten on each side, holding on to sticks put 
through ropes which served for traces), and twenty others who 
carried the others' muskets and the wheels and caissons of the 
piece. The Consul had taken the precaution to collect the 
mountaineers together for the purpose of picking up all the 
things which should have been left behind, promising them 
six francs for the journey and two rations a day. In this 
way every thing was brought together at the place of rendez- 
vous, and nothing: was lost. 



60 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

The next morning at daybreak, our master placed us by 
twenties at our pieces, ten on each side of a gun. I was put 
in the first place, to the right, in front ; it was the most dan- 
gerous side, because it was next to the precipices. Then we 
started off with our three pieces. Two men carried each axle- 
tree, two carried a wheel, four carried the upper part of the 
caisson, eight carried the chest, eight others the muskets. 
Every one had his special duty and position. It was a most 
terrible journey. From time to time there were commands of 
" Halt," or " Advance," and not a word was spoken. All this 
was mere pastime, but when we reached the snow, matters 
became more serious. The road was covered with ice which 
cut our shoes, and our gunner could not manage his piece ; it 
slipped constantly. He was obliged to mount it anew. This 
man needed all his courage to be able to hold out; "Halt!" 
" Advance ! " he cried every moment, and all moved on in 
silence. 

We had gone over a league of this terrible road, and it was 
necessary to give us a moment to rest and to put on some new 
shoes, for those we had on were in tatters, and also to take a 
bite of our biscuits. As I was taking my string from around 
my neck so as to take one off, the string broke, and all my 
biscuits went rolling down the precipice. How grieved I was 
to find myself without bread, and how my forty comrades 
laughed at my misfortune ! " Come," said our cannoneer, " we 
must make up a feed for our lead horse, he always obeys the 
first word of command." This made my comrades laugh again. 
" All right," they answered, " let each of us give a biscuit to 
our lead horse ! " Then I recovered my spirits. I thanked 
them with all my heart and found myself richer than my com- 
rades. We started off again well shod. " Come, my horses," 
said our gunner, " fall into your places, advance ! When we 
reach the snow fields, we shall move more easily and not 
have so much trouble." 

We did reach those terrible fields of perpetual snow, and 
found much less difficulty ; our gun-trough slid along more rap- 
idly. General Chambarlhac came up with us and wanted to 
hasten us ; he went towards the cannoneer and assumed the 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 61 

tone of command, but was ill received. " You don't command 
my piece," said the cannoneer. "I alone am responsible for it. 
Go your own way ! these grenadiers do not belong to you for 
the present ; I alone command them." Then he tried to ap- 
proach the cannoneer, but the latter commanded him to halt. 
" If you do not move out of my way I will knock you down 
with one blow of my crowbar. Pass on, or I will throw you 
over the precipice ! " 

He was compelled to go away, and after the greatest exer- 
tion we reached the foot of the monastery steep. For four 
hundred feet the ascent is very rapid, and we could see that 
some troops had gone on ahead of us. The road had been 
opened and paths cut out leading to the monastery. We 
planted our three pieces, and four hundred of us grenadiers 
with a party of our officers entered the house of God, where men 
devoted to the cause of humanity are stationed to give aid and 
comfort to travellers. Their dogs are always on hand to guide 
unfortunate creatures who may have fallen in the avalanches 
of snow, and conduct them to this house, where every necessary 
comfort is provided. 

While our colonel and other officers were in the halls beside 
bright fires, we received from these venerable men a bucket of 
wine for every twelve men, and a quarter of a pound of 
Gruyere cheese and a loaf of bread for each. AVe were lodged 
in the large corridors. These good monks did every thing 
that they possibly could, and I believe they were well treated. 

For our part, we pressed the good fathers' hands when we 
parted from them, and embraced their dogs which caressed us 
as if they knew us. I cannot find words to express the ven- 
eration I feel for those men. 

Our officers decided to take our pieces down the descent, 
and then our terrible task would be accomplished. Our brave 
captain, Merle, was appointed to conduct the three companies. 
As we crossed the lake which is at the foot of the monastery, 
we saw that in one place the ice had been broken. The good 
monk who showed us the way told us that it was the first 
time for forty years that he had seen the water. He pressed 
our captain's hand and bade us all farewell. 



62 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

We descended almost perpendicularly, and reached St. Eeiny. 
This village is down in a perfect hell of snow ; the houses 
are very low, and covered with very broad tiles. Here we 
passed the night. I lay down on the floor of a stable where 
I found some straw, and passed a comfortable night along 
with twenty of my comrades ; we were not cold. The next 
morning we had roll-call, and started to go to a place three 
leagues farther on. We were going to get out of hell and 
descend to paradise. "Be saving of your biscuits," said our 
captain, " we are not yet in Piedmont. We must go through 
many a difficult pass before we reach Italy." We came to the 
place of general rendezvous for all the regiments ; it Avas a long 
gorge with a village set against the mountain. To the right, 
up a steep slope, there was a very high rock. In two days 
all our forces were gathered together in this plain. Our brave 
officers had come through without any boots and with no 
sleeves to their coats ; it was pitiful to see them. 

This rendezvous seemed to be the end of the world; there 
was no way leading out of it. The Consul arrived and imme- 
diately ordered some heavy timbers to be brought. He 
superintended in person, with all the engineers, and they 
made a hole in the rock, which was on the edge of the preci- 
pice. This rock was so steep that it seemed as though it had 
been cut. A piece of timber was placed in the hole ; then he 
made them put another piece across it (this was more difficult 
to accomplish), and placed a man at the end. When the sec- 
ond piece was in position, with beams on the first two, it was 
no longer difficult to establish our bridge. Railings were put 
on the side next the precipice, and this wonderful piece of 
work was completed in two days. Meanwhile all our pieces 
had been remounted, and nothing was lost. 

On the other side the descent was easy to the valley, which 
led to the fort of Bard, which is surrounded by rocks. This 
fort is impregnable, it is impossible to batter it down ; it is 
one great rock, with rocks all around it which tower above it, 
and which cannot be surmounted. Here the Consul took 
many pinches of snuff, and had quite enough to do, with all 
his genius. His engineers set to work to pass by out of range 




r - .... ' . k 



" He had a path cut in the side of this mountain." — -Page 63. 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 63 

of the guns. They discovered a foot-path among the rocks 
which was four hundred yards long, and he had it cleared 
out and made smooth. This foot-path led to the foot of a 
mountain ; he had a path cut in the side of this mountain with 
iron sledge-hammers, wide enough for a man to ride through 
on horseback. But this was not his most difficult task. The 
ordnance was at hand, sheltered in a cave, but it could not 
follow the foot-path, but must pass near the fort. So this is 
the way he managed it ; he first placed two pieces on the road 
in front of the fort and fired into it. He was, however, obliged 
to withdraw them immediately, for a cannon-ball entered one 
of our pieces. He sent a flag of truce and summoned the 
commander to surrender, but received an unfavorable reply. 
He was then obliged to employ strategy. He chose good 
sharp-shooters, gave them provisions and cartridges, and 
placed them in the clefts of the rocks or had niches made 
for them in the rocks which overlooked the fort. Their shot 
fell on the backs of the soldiers, they could not move about 
in their court-yard. The same day he discovered a very broad 
flat rock to the left of the fort. He immediately made an 
examination of it so as to plant two pieces on it. Men and 
ropes were called into requisition, and the two pieces were 
placed upon this flat rock which was at least a hundred feet 
higher than the fort. Grape shot was poured into it, and the 
soldiers could not move from their casemates during the day ; 
but still, there were our pieces and our caissons which must be 
taken past the fort. 

As soon as Bonaparte learned that the horses belonging to 
the artillery trains had passed by, he made preparations to 
send his artillery under the walls of the fort ; he had the 
wheels and every part which could make any noise, even the 
soldiers' shoes, padded with straw, so as not to attract atten- 
tion. At. midnight all was ready. The cannoneers of our 
half-brigade asked for grenadiers to drag the artillery, and the 
twenty men who had climbed Mont St. Bernard were detailed 
for that purpose. I was among those who were under the 
same cannoneer under whom I had made the passage of 
the St. Bernard; he put me at the head of the first piece, 



64 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

and each, of the others at his former post. The signal for 
departure was given ; not a breath was heard. We passed by 
without being noticed. 

On reaching the opposite side, we turned immediately to 
the left ; along the way for forty feet, we were protected by 
the rock which overlooked the road and concealed us from the 
fort. We found the horses all ready ; we hitched them up at 
once and started off. We returned by the same road on tip- 
toe, holding on to each others' coat-tails ; but we were heard, 
and grenades were thrown upon us over the ramparts. As 
they fell upon the opposite side of the road, no one was struck ; 
we were only frightened and went back to get our guns. This 
was a mistake ; we should have been told to put them on the 
caissons, and go forward on our way. As it was, we were 
much exposed ; but it is impossible to think of everything. 

On our return from this perilou.s undertaking, the colonel 
congratulated us upon our success : " I thought you were lost, 
my brave men." Our captain made us form a circle around 
him, and said, "My grenadiers, you have just accomplished a 
great work. It is a great credit to the company." He shook 
us all by the hand, and said to me, "I am much pleased with 
your first services. I shall remember you." Then he pressed 
my hand again, saying, " I am very well pleased." We all 
answered, "Captain, we all love you." — "Ah, you are very 
kind ; T shall not forget it, and I thank you." 

We now went up a steep foot-path ; wdien we reached the 
top of the mountain, we saw the beautiful plains of Piedmont. 
The descent being practicable, we soon found ourselves in 
that paradise, and went on by forced marches as far as Turin, 
where the inhabitants were surprised to see an army arrive 
with its artillery. 

This is the best-built city in Europe. All the houses are 
alike, all built after the same model, with streams of pure 
water in the gutters ; all the streets are straight and very 
magnificent. Next day we set out for Milan. We made no 
halt, the march was forced. We made our entrance into the 
beautiful city of Milan, where all the people lined the streets 
to see us pass. They are very fine-looking. The street which 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK, 65 

leads to the Roman gateway is as handsome as can well be 
imagined. Passing through this gate, and turning to the left, 
we found a camp already established, and barracks completed. 
We saw that there was an army there ahead of us. We were 
made to stack arms, and men were detailed to go for provisions, 
and I was among the number. ISTo one was allowed to enter 
the city. I stole off, while rations were being distributed, to 
go and see the cathedral. There is nothing like it, with all 
its columns of white marble. I went back to carry my bag 
of bread, and full rations were distributed to us. 

We left there the next morning, and went to the right down 
to the river Po, which is a very deep stream. Here we found 
a flying bridge, which would hold five hundred men at a 
time, and by means of a heavy rope, which was thrown across 
the river, one could cross by pulling on the rope. This con- 
sumed a great deal of time, especially in transferring the 
artillery. It was very late when we reached the heights, 
which were completely laid waste, and there we passed the 
night. Our division was sent on to Piacenza, a superb city. 
General Lannes was defeating the Austrians, and driving 
them back upon the Po. As for our division, we were sent 
from one place to another, and made to march in every direc- 
tion to assist the divisions of the advance guard, and still we 
did not fire a gun. W^ f>i^ly manoeuvred. 

We again marched down to the Po. The Austrians seized 
upon the heights before reaching Montebello. Their artillery 
cut down our troops as they came up. We were obliged to 
send the 24th and 43d half-brigades forward to take possession 
of the position. General Lannes finally succeeded in driving 
them back toward Montebello, and pursued them all night. 
The next morning he bade them good-by, and ou.r half-brigade 
occupied the heights, which had cost us so much to take, for 
they were twice as strong as we were. ISText morning we 
started out to follow in the wake of that immense advance- 
guard, and we were stationed about half a league back of 
Montebello, in a broad walk in a beautiful plantation of mul- 
berry-trees. There we were made to stack arms. 

We were regaling oiirselves upon the ripe fruit with which 



66 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGN ET. 



the trees were loaded, when suddenly at eleven o'clock we 
heard cannonading. We thought it was very far off. But 
we were mistaken, it was coming nearer to us. An aide-de- 
camp came up with orders for us to advance as rapidly as 
possible. The general was hard pressed on all sides. " To 
arms," said our colonel, " forward, my brave regiment ! To- 
day it is our turn to distinguish ourselves." And we shouted, 
" Hurrah for our colonel and all our brave officers ! " Our cap- 
tain, with his one hundred and seventy-four grenadiers, said, 

"I will answer for my companj^. 
I will lead them to the front." 

We were made to march by pla- 
toons, and load our guns as we 
were marching, and here I put tho 
first cartridge in my gun. I made 
the sign of the cross with my car- 
tridge, and it brought me good 
luck. We reached the entrance of 
the village of Montebello, where 
we saw a great many wounded 
soldiers, and then came the charge 
which won the day. 

I was in the first platoon in the 
third rank, according to my height. 
As we were going out of the vil- 
lage, a cannon gave us a volley of 
grape-shot, which did no one any harm. I ducked my head 
at the sound of the cannon, but my sergeant-major slapped 
me on the knapsack with his sabre, and said, " You must not 
duck your head." — "ISTo, I won't," I answered. 

After the first discharge. Captain Merle cried, "To right 
and left into the trenches," so as to prevent our receiving 
another volley. As I did not hear the captain's command, I 
was left entirely exposed. I ran past our drummers, towards 
the cannon, and fell upon the cannoneers. They were loading 
again, and did not see me. I bayoneted all five of them, then 
leaped uporl the piece, and my captain embraced me as he went 
by. He told me to guard my cannon, which I did, and our 




SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 



67 



battalions dashed upon the enemy. It was a bloody charge of 
bayonets, with firing by platoons. The men of our demi- 
brigade fought like lions. 

I did not remain long in that position. General Berthier 
came galloping up, and said to me, "What are you doing 
here ? " — " General, you see what I am doing. This is my 




^.-.iflU.U^ 



piece, I took it all by myself." — " Do you want something to 
eat ? " — " Yes, general." (He talked through his nose.) 
Then he turned to his groom, and said, "Give him some 
bread." And taking out a little green memorandum-book, he 
asked me my name. "Jean-Roch Coignet." — '-Your half 
brigade ? " — " Ninety-sixth." — " Your battalion ? " — " The 
first." — "Your company?" — "First." — "Your captain?" 
— " Merle." — " Tell your captain to bring you to see the 



68 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

Consul at ten o'clock. Go and find him ; leave your piece 
here." 

Then he galloped off, and I, delighted, went as fast as 
my legs would take me to rejoin my company, which had 
turned into a road to the right. This road was a sunk road, 
bordered on each side with hedges and filled with Austrian 
grenadiers. Our grenadiers were fighting thein with bayonets. 
They were in complete disorder. I went up to my captain, 
and told him that my name had been taken down. " That is 
good," said he. " Now, come through this opening, so we can 
get ahead of the company ; they are marching too fast, they 
will be cut off. Follow me." We went together through the 
opening. About a hundred steps off, on the other side of the 
road, there was a large wild pear-tree, and behind it a Hunga- 
rian grenadier, who was waiting till my captain came in front 
of him to fire upon him. But as he saw him, he cried to me, 
" Fire, grenadier." As I was behind the Hungarian, I took 
aim at a distance of only ten steps, and he fell, stone dead. 
Then my captain embraced me. "Do not leave me through 
the whole fight," said he ; " you have saved my life." And 
we hastened on to get ahead of the company which had 
advanced too rapidly. 

There was a sergeant who came from the other side as we 
did. Three grenadiers surrounded him. I ran to help him. 
They had hold of him, and called to me to surrender. I pointed 
my gun at them with my left hand, and with my right I made 
it play see-saw, plunging my bayonet into the body of first one 
and then a second of the grenadiers. The third was thrown 
down by the sergeant, who took him by the head, and threw 
him at his feet. The captain finished the work. The sergeant 
recaptured his belt and his watch, and in his turn plundered the 
three Austrians. We left him to recover himself, and put on 
his clothes, and hastened forward to get in front of the com- 
pany, which was filing into an open field, where the captain 
once more took command, and reunited it to the battalion, 
which was marching forward at a quick step. 

We were encumbered with three hundred prisoners, who 
had surrendered on the sunk road. We turned them over to 



SECOND NOTE-BOOK. 69 

some of the hussars de la mort who had escaped, for they had 
been cut to pieces that morning, and only two hundred out of 
a thousand were left. We took more prisoners ; we did not 
know what to do with them ; no one wanted to take charge of 
them, and they went along unguarded. They were routed 
completely. They ceased firing upon us, and ran like rabbits, 
especially the cavalry, which caused a panic throughout the 
infantry. The Consul came up in time to see the battle won, 
and General Lannes covered with blood (he looked dread- 
fully), for he had been constantly in the thick of the fight, 
and it was he who made the last charge. If we had had two 
regiments of cavalry, all their infantry might have been, 
taken. 

That evening, the captain took me by the arm, presented 
me to the colonel, and told him what I had done during the 
day. He answered, "Why, captain, I knew nothing about it 
all." Then he shook me by the hand, and said, " I must 
make a note of this." — " General Berthier wishes to present 
him to the Consul at ten o'clock this evening," said my cap- 
tain; "I am going to take him." — "Ah! I am glad of it, 
grenadier." 

We went to see General Berthier, and my captain said to 
him, "Here is my grenadier who captured the cannon, and 
since then he has saved my life and that of my first sergeant. 
He killed three Hungarian grenadiers." — "I will present 
him to the Consul." Then General Berthier and my captain 
went to see the Consul, and after talking a while with him 
they called me in. The Consul came up to me, and took me 
by th-e ear. I thought he was going to scold me, but, on the 
contrary, he was very kind ; and still holding me by the ear, 
he said, " How long have you been in the service ? " — " This 
is my first battle." — "Ah, indeed! it is a good beginning. 
Berthier, put him down for a gun of honor. You are too 
young to be in my guard ; for that, one must have made four 
campaigns. Berthier, make a note of him at once, and write 
it in the portfolio of notes. You may go now," said he to 
me, "but you shall one day be one of my guards." 

Then my captain took me away, and we went off with our 



70 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



arms locked as if I had been his equal. " Do you know how- 
to write ? " said he. — " No, captain.'' — " Oh, that is a pity ; 
if you did, your fortune would be made. But, never mind, 
you will be specially remembered." — " Thank you, captain." 

All the officers shook hands with me, and the brave ser- 
geant, whose life I had saved, embraced me before the whole 
company, who cheered me. How proud I was ! 

Thus ended the battle of Montebello. 




"^e ~=^ ^-^ — ^0=^^—^*^ 




THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 



THE BATTLE OF MARENGO. 



EXCURSION INTO SPAIN. 



The next night we slept on the field of battle. The morn- 
ing of the 19th, the drums called to arms. Lannes and 
Murat set out with their van-guard to bid the Austrians good- 
morning, but could not find them. They liad not slept, and 
had marched all night. Our half-brigade finished picking up 
the wounded Austrians and French whom we. had not found 
the night before. We carried them off to the ambulances, 
and it was very late before we left the battle-field. 

We were all night on the march through cross roads. At 
midnight, M. Lepreux, our colonel, called a halt, and passed 
down the ranks saying, "Maintain the most perfect silence, — 
absolute silence." Then he ordered the first battalion to 
move. We passed through narrow roads where we could not 
even see each other. The officers, who were on horseback, had 
dismounted, and the most profound silence reigned through 
the ranks. We passed out, and found ourselves in ploughed 
fields. We were still forbidden to make any noise, or to light 
any fire. We were obliged to lie down among the great clods 
of dirt, with our heads on our knapsacks, and wait for the day. 



72 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

The next morning we were ordered to rise, with empty 
stomachs ! We went on only to find villages completely 
pillaged. We crossed ditches and marshes, a large stream, 
and came to villages filled with shrubbery. No provisions 
anywhere. All the houses were deserted. Our officers were 
overcome with fatigue and hunger. We left these marshy 
places, and turned to the left, into a village surrounded by 
orchards and gardens. Here we found some flour, a little bread, 
and a few animals. It was time, for we were dying of hunger. 

On the 12th our two half-brigades came up on our right 
wing, and our division was reunited. We were told that 
the name of the village was Marengo. In the morning the 
breakfast-drum sounded. What joy ! Twenty-seven wagons 
filled with bread had arrived. What happiness for the fam- 
ished! Every one was willing to do extra duty. But what 
was our disappointment ! The bread was all damp and mouldy. 
But we were obliged to put up with it. 

On the 13th, at break of day, we were made to march for- 
ward into an open plain, and at two o'clock we were placed in 
line of battle and piled arms. Aides-de-camp arrived from our 
right, who flew around in every direction. A general engage- 
ment took place ; the 24th half-brigade was detached and 
sent forward unsupported. It marched a long distance, came 
up with the Austrians, and had a serious encounter, in which 
it lost heavily. It was obliged to form a square in order to 
resist the attack of the enemy. Bonaparte abandoned it in 
this terrible position. It was said that he desired to leave it 
to be destroyed. The reason was this. At the time of the 
battle of Montebello, this half-brigade, having been forced to 
fire by General Lannes, began by firing upon its officers. The 
soldiers spared only one lieutenant. I do not reall}'' know 
what could have been the motive for this terrible vengeance. 
The Consul, informed of what had taken place, concealed his 
indignation. He could not give way to it when in face of the 
enemy. The lieutenant who had survived the destruction of 
his comrades was appointed captain ; the staff immediately 
re-formed. But, nevertheless, it was understood that Bona- 
parte had not forgotten. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 73 

About five or six o'clock in the evening we were sent to 
extricate the 24th. When we arrived, soldiers and officers 
heaped insults upon us, declaring that we had wantonly left 
theni to destruction, as if it depended upon us to march to 
their assistance. They had been overwhelmed. I suppose 
they had lost half their men ; but this did not prevent their 
fighting still better the next day. ^ 

There was no longer any doubt that the Austrians were in 
front of us, in the city of Alessandria. All night long we 
were under arms ; the outposts were placed as far forward as 
possible, and small guard-posts advanced. On the 14th, at 
three o'clock in the morning, they surprised two of our small 
posts of four men and killed them. This was the signal for 
the morning reveille. At four o'clock there was firing on our 
right. Our drums beat the general, and the aides-de-camp came 
and ordered us to form our lines of battle. We were made to 
fall back a little behind a beautiful field of wheat, which was 
on a slightly rising ground and concealed us, and there we 
waited a little while. Suddenly their sharpshooters came out 
from behind the willows and from the marshes, and then the 
artillery opened fire. A shell burst in the first company and 
killed seven men ; a bullet killed the orderly near General 
Chambarlhac, who galloped off at full speed. ^ W^e saw him 
no more all day. 

A little general came up, who had fine mustaches : he found 
our colonel, and asked where was our general. We answered, 
"He is gone." — "Very well, I will take command of the di- 
vision." And he immediately took charge of the company of 
grenadiers of whom I was one, and led us to the attack in one 
rank. We opened fire. "Do not halt while loading your 
guns," said he. "I will recall you by the beating of the drums." 
And he hastened to rejoin his division. He had scarcely re- 
turned to his post when the column of Austrians started from 

1 This paragraph and the preceding one were added during the printing of the first 
edition made at Auxerre, under the supervision of the author. They are not found 
in liis manuscript. 

2 Yet in October, 1793, tVieMoniteur speaks of this Chambarlhac, then chief of bat- 
talion, as having contributed by his courage to the occupation of the territory of 
Mont Blanc. But those shine in the second rank who are eclipsed in the first. 



74 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

behind the willows, deployed in front of iis, fired by battalions, 
and riddled us with small shot. Our little general answered, 
and there we were between two fires, sacrificed. ... I ran be- 
hind a big willow tree, and fired into that column, but I could 
not stand it. The balls came from every direction, and I was 
obliged to lie down with my head on the ground in order to 
shield myself from the small shot, which were making the 
twigs fall all over me ; I was covered with them. I believed 
myself lost. 

Fortunately our whole division now advanced by battalion. 
I got up and found myself in a company of the battalion ; I 
continued in it all the rest of the day, for not more than four- 
teen of our hundred and seventy grenadiers remained ; the 
rest were killed or wounded. We were obliged to resume our 
first position, riddled by small shot. Everything fell upon 
us who held the left wing of the army, opposite the high road 
to Alessandria, and we had the most difficult position to main- 
tain. They constantly endeavored to flank us, and we were 
obliged to close up continually, in order to prevent them from 
surprising us in the rear. 

Our colonel was everywhere at once, behind the half- 
brigade so as to sustain us ; our captain, who had lost his 
company and who was wounded in the arm, performed the 
duties of aide-de-camp to our intrepid general. We could not 
see one another in the smoke. The cannons set the wheat- 
field on fire, and this caused a general commotion in the ranks. 
The cartridge-boxes exploded ; we were obliged to fall back in 
order to form again as quickly as possible. This caused us 
much mortification, but was atoned for by the intrepidity of 
our chiefs, who looked out for everything. 

In the centre of the division Avas a barn surrounded by high 
walls, where a regiment of Austrian dragoons had concealed 
themselves ; they burst upon a battalion of the 43d brigade 
and surrounded it ; every man of it was captured and taken to 
Alessandria. Fortunately General Kellermann came up with 
his dragoons and restored order. His charges silenced the 
Austrian cavalry. 

Nevertheless, their numerous artillery overwhelmed us, and 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 



75 



we could hold out no longer. Our ranks were thinned visibly ; 
all about us there were only wounded men to be seen, and the 
soldiers who bore them away did not return to their ranks ; 
this weakened us very much. We had to yield ground. Their 
columns were constantly re-enforced ; no one came to our aid. 
We began to retreat, but in good order. Our cartridges were 
giving out and we had already lost an ambulance, when the 
consular guard arrived with eight hundred men having their 




linen smock-frocks filled with cartridges ; they passed behind 
our ranks and gave us the cartridges. This saved our lives. 
Then the fire redoubled and the Consul appeared ; we felt 
ourselves strong again. He placed his guard in line in the 
centre of the army and made it march forward. They imme- 
diately arrested the enemy, forming a square and marching in 
line of battle. The splendid horse-grenadiers came up at a 
gallop, charged the enemy at once and cut their cavalry to 
pieces. Ah ! that gave us a moment to breathe, it gave us 
confidence for an hour. But not being able to hold out against 



76 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

the consular horse-grenadiers, they turned upon our half- 
brigade and drove in the first platoons, sabring them. I 
received such a blow from a sabre on my neck that my queue 
was almost cut off ; fortunately- 1 had the thickest one in the 
regiment. My epaulet was cut off with a piece of my coat 
and shirt, and the flesh a little scratched. I fell head over 
heels into a ditch. 

The cavalry charges were terrible. Kellermann made three 
in succession with his dragoons ; he led them forward and led 
them back. The whole of that body of cavalry leaped over 
me as I lay stunned in the ditch. I got rid of my knapsack, 
my cartridge box, and my sabre. I took hold of the tail of a 
retreating dragoon's horse, leaving all my belongings in the 
ditch. I made a few strides behind that horse which carried 
me away, and then fell senseless, not being able to breathe 
any longer. But, thank God, I was saved ! But for my head 
of hair, which I still have at seventy-two years of age, I should 
have been killed. 

I had time to find a gun, a cartridge box, and a knapsack 
(the ground was covered with them). I resuroed my place in 
the second company of grenadiers, who received me with cor- 
diality. The captain came and shook my hands. " I thought 
you were lost, my brave man," said he ; " you got a famous 
sabre stroke, for you have no queue and your shoulder is badly 
hurt. You must go to the rear." — '• I thank you, I have a 
cartridge box full of cartridges, and I am going to revenge 
myself upon such troopers as I meet ; they have done me too 
much harm ; they shall pay for it." 

We retreated in good order, but the battalions were visibly 
reduced, and quite ready to give up but for the encouragement 
of their officers. We held out till noon without being dis- 
ordered. Looking behind, we saw the Consul seated on the 
bank of the ditch by the highway to Alessandria, holding his 
horse by the bridle, and flirting up little stones with his rid- 
ing whip. The cannon-balls which rolled along the road he 
did not seem to see. When we came near him he mounted 
his horse and set off at a gallop behind our ranks. " Courage, 
soldiers," said he, " the reserves are coming. Stand firm ! " 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 77 

Then he was off to the right of the army. The soldiers were 
shouting, *•' Vive Bonaparte ! " But the plain was hlled. with 
the dead and wounded, for we had no time to gather them up ; 
we had to show ourselves everywhere. The discharges by 
battalion, by echelons formed in the rear, arrested the enemy, 
but those cursed cartridges would no longer go into our fouled 
musket barrels. This caused us to lose time. 

My brave captain, Merle, passed behind the second battalion, 
and the captain said to him, "■ I have one of your grenadiers ; 
he has received a famous sabre-cut." — " Where is he ? Make 
him come out, so I may see him. Ah ! it is you, is it, 
Coignet ? " — " Yes, captain." — '■ I thought you were among 
the dead, I saw you fall into the ditch." — " They gave me a 
famous sabre-cut ; see, they have cut off my queue." — " See 
here, feel in my knapsack, take my ' life-preserver,' and drink 
a cup of rum to restore you. This evening, if we live, I shall 
come and seek you out." — " Now I am saved for the day, 
my captain ; I shall fight finely." The other captain said, " I 
wanted him to go t6 the rear, but he would not." — "I can 
readily believe it ; he saved my life at Montebello." They 
took me by the hand. How beautiful is gratitude ! I shall 
feel the value of it all my life. 

Meanwhile, do all we could, we were beginning to fail. It 
was two o'clock. " The battle is lost," said our officers, when 
suddenly an aide-de-camp arrived at a sweeping gallop. He 
cried, " Where is the First Consul ? Here is the reserve. 
Courage ! you will be re-enforced at once, within half an 
hour." Then up came the Consul. " Steady," said he, as he 
passed along, "here is my reserve." Our poor little platoons 
gazed down the road to Montebello every time we turned 
around. 

Finally came the joyful cry, ''Here they are, here they are!" 
That splendid division came up, carrying arms. It was like a 
forest swayed by the wind. The troops arrived without run- 
ning, with a fine park of artillery in the spaces between the 
half-brigades, and a regiment of heavy cavalry bringing up the 
rear. Having reached their position, they took possession of 
it as though they had chosen it expressly for their line of bat- 



78 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

tie. On our left, to the left of the highway, a very tall hedge 
concealed them ; not even the cavalry could be seen. 

Meanwhile we continued to sound a retreat. The Consul 
gave his orders, and the Austrians came along as though they 
were on their way home, shouldering arms ; they paid no 
attention to us ; they believed us to be utterly routed. We 
had gone three hundred paces past the division of General 
Desaix, and the Austrians were also about to pass the line, 
when the thunderbolt descended upon the head of their col- 
umn. Grape-shot, shells, shot from the battalions, rained upon 
them. Our drums beat a general charge ; the whole line 
wheeled about and ran forward. We did not shout, we yelled. 
. The men of the brave 9th demi-brigade ran like rabbits 
through the hedge ; they rushed with their bayonets upon the 
Hungarian grenadiers, and gave them no time to recover. 
The 30th and 59th fell in their turn upon the enemy and took 
four thousand prisoners. The regiment of heavy cavalry fell 
upon the whole. Every man did his duty, but the 9th excelled 
them all. Our other cavalry joined this, and rushed in solid 
column upon the Austrian cavalry, whom they so completely 
routed that they rode off at full gallop to Alessandria. An 
Austrian division coming from the right wing charged us with 
bayonets. We ran up also and crossed bayonets with them. We 
overcame them, and I received a small cut in the right eyelid, 
as I was parrying a thrust from a grenadier. I did not miss him, 
but the blood blinded my eyes (they had a grudge against my 
head that day). It was a small matter. I continued to march 
and did not suffer from it. We followed them until nine 
o'clock in the evening : we threw them into the ditches full of 
water. Their bodies served as a bridge upon which others 
could cross over. It was frightful to see these unfortunate 
creatures drowning, and the bridge all blocked with them. We 
could hear nothing bat their cries ; they could no longer return 
to the city, and we took their carriages and their cannons. 
At ten o'clock, my captain sent his servant to ask me to take 
supper with him, and my eye was dressed and my hair put in 
good condition. 

We slept on the battle-field, and the next day at four o'clock 




I received a small cut in the rit;lit e\ <. lul. ' — Page 78. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 79 

in the morning, a party with flags of truce came out of the 
city. They demanded a suspension of arms, and went to the 
headquarters of the Consul. They were well escorted. The 
camp became gay once more. I said to my captain, " If you 
please, I would like to go to headquarters." — " What for ? " 
" I have some acquaintances among the guard. Let me have 
a companion." — " But it is very far." — '' No matter, we will 
return early, I promise you." — '' Very well, go." 

We set out, our sabres at our sides. Upon reaching the 
grating of the chateau of Marengo, I asked for a cavalry 
sergeant who had been long in the corps, and a very hand- 
some man appeared. " What do you want with me ? " said 
he. — "I wish to know how long you have been in the guard 
of the Directory." — "Nine years." — "It was I who trained 
your horses, and who rode them at the Luxembourg. If you 
remember, it was M. Potier who sold them to you." — " That 
is so," said he to me ; " come in, I will present you to my cap- 
tain." He told my comrade to wait, and introduced me as 
follows: "Here is the young man who trained our horses at 
Paris." — "And who rode so well," added the captain. — "Yes, 
captain." — "But you are wounded." — "Ah! it is a bayonet 
thrust from a Hungarian. I punished him. But they cut 
my queue half off. If I had been on horseback that would 
not have happened to me." — "I dare say," said he, " I know 
your skill in that respect. Sergeant, give him a drink." — 
" Have you any bread, captain ? " — " Go get four loaves for 
him. I am going to show you your horses and see if you 
will recognize them." I pointed out twelve of them to him. 
" That's right," said he, " you recognized them very easily." — 
"All right, captain. If I had been mounted on one of those 
horses, they would not have cut off my hair ; but they shall 
answer for it. I shall enter the Consul's guard. I am marked 
out for a silver gun,^ and when I shall have made four cam- 
paigns, the Consul has promised to put me in his guard. " — 
" Very likely, my brave grenadier. If you ever come to Paris 
there is my address. What is your captain's name ? " — " Merle, 
first company of grenadiers of the 96th half-brigade of the 

^ The arms of honor had a silver mounting. 



80 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

line." — " There are five francs to drink my health, I promise 
to write to your captain. We must give him some brandy in 
a bottle." — "I thank you for your kindness, now I must go ; 
my comrade is waiting for me at the grating, I must take him 
some bread at once." — ''I did not know it, go along. Take 
another loaf and be off to join your corps." — "Farewell, cap- 
tain, you saved the army by your splendid charges. I saw 
you well." — " That is so," said he. 

He, with his sergeant, accompanied me as far as the grating. 
The wounded of the guard were stretched on some straw in 
the court-yard, and amputations were being made. It was 
heart-rending to hear their cries on all sides. I came out 
with my heart rent with grief, but a more horrible spectacle 
was to be seen on the plain. We saw the battle-field covered 
with Austrian and French soldiers who were picking up the 
dead and placing them in piles, and dragging them along with 
their gun straps. Men and horses were laid pell-mell in the 
same heap, and set on fire in order to preserve us from pesti- 
lence. The scattered bodies had a little earth thrown over 
them to cover them. 

I was stopped by a lieutenant, who said to me, " Where are 
you going?" — "I am going to carry some bread to my cap- 
tain." — " You got it at the Consul's headquarters. Could 
you give me a bit?" — "Yes." I said to my comrade, "You 
have a small piece, give it to the lieutenant." — " Thank you, 
my brave grenadier, you have saved my life. Pass down the 
road to the left." And he had the kindness to accompany us 
a good bit of the way, fearing we might be arrested. I 
thanked him for his goodness, and soon reached my captain, 
who smiled when he saw my package. "Have you been on a 
marauding party ? " — "Yes, captain, I have brought you some 
bread and some brandy." — "And where did you find it?" I 
related to him my adventure. ''Ah," said he, "you were 
born under a lucky star." — " See, here is a loaf and a bottle 
of good brandy. Put them in your 'life preserver.' If you 
want to take a loaf for the colonel and the general, you can 
divide with them ; they are, perhaps, very hungry." — " That 
is a happy thought ; I will do so with pleasure, and I thank 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 



81 



you on their part." — " Come, first eat and drink some of this 
good brandy. I am delighted to be able to return the service 
you rendered me and the good meal you enabled me to enjoy." 
"You shall tell me all that some other time. I am going to 
carry this bread to the colonel and the general." 

All this, however, the captain set down to my account. On 
the 16th the army received orders to carry laurels, and the 
oak trees had a hard time. At noon we filed before the First 
Consul, and our excellent general marched on foot in front of 
the remnant of his division. 
General Chambarlhac appeared 
on horseback at the head of his 
division, but he was saluted 
with a volley from our half- 
brigade, and he disappeared. 
We never saw him again, and 
the sequel of that story is un- 
known to us. But we shouted, 
" Hurrah for our little general," 
for him who had led us so 
bravely on the day of the 
battle. 

On the morning of the 16th, 
General Melas sent back our 
prisoners (there Avere about 
twelve hundred of them), and 
this was a great delight to us. 
Provisions had been given them, 

and they were triumphantly received on their arrival. On the 
26th, the first Austrian column filed before us, and we watched 
them go by. What a superb column it was ! there were men 
enough in it to have overAvhelmed us at that moment, seeing 
how few of us there were. It was frightful to see such a body 
of cavalry and artillery ; they were three days in passing. 
There were only baggage wagons. They left us half of their 
stores; we got considerable provisions and ammunition. They 
yielded to us forty leagues of country, and retired behind the 
Mincio. We brought up the rear of the last column. We 




82 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

travelled aloug together; our lame ones mounted on their 
carriages ; they marched on the left and we on the right side 
of the road. No one quarrelled, and we were the best friends 
in the world. 

Marching thus, Ave came to the flying bridge over the river 
Po. As only five hundred men could cross at one time over 
this flying bridge, we lost no time, and continued our march 
to Cremona, the place which we were to garrison during the 
three months of truce agreed upon. Cremona is a beautiful 
city which is proof against surprise. Splendid ramparts and 
solid gates. The town is considerable ; there is a handsome 
cathedral with an immense dial-plate ; an arrow-hand makes 
the circuit of it once in a hundred years. In the markets they 
weigh everything ; even onions and grass ; it is filled with de- 
licious melons called watermelons ; there are milk taverns 
there. But it is the worst garrison in Italy ; we slept on 
the ground, on straw filled with vermin. Breeches, waistcoats, 
and undervests were in a deplorable condition. Incon- 
ceived the idea of killing these vermin which bit me. I made 
some lye in a copper boiler and put my waistcoat in it. Alas 
for me ! The waistcoat melted away like paper, nothing was 
left me but the lining. There I was entirely naked, and 
nothing in my knapsack to put on. 

My good comrades came to my assistance. I at once had 
letters written to my father and my uncle ; I informed them 
of my distress, and begged them to send me a little money. 
Their answers were long delayed but came at last. I received 
both letters at the same time (not prepaid) ; they each cost 
me a franc and a half, in all three francs for postage. My old 
sergeant happened to be present. " Do me the kindness to 
read them." He took my two letters. My father said, "If 
you were a little nearer I woiild send you a little money." 
And my uncle said, " I have just paid for some state lands, I 
can send you nothing." Such were my two charming letters ! 
I never wrote to them again in my life. After the truce, I 
was obliged to mount guard at the outposts four times, as a 
forlorn sentinel on the shore of the Mincio, at fifteen sous a 
watch, in order to pay this debt. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 83 

These two letters have made me lose sight of my subject. 
I return to Cremona, where we passed three months in utter 
misery. Our half-brigade was made up and our company was 
organized ; they took a third from each of tAvo companies so 
as to make them all equal, and they took grenadiers from the 
battalion so as to finish our quota. Every day we were led 
out on military parade, on the great road, with our knapsacks 
on our back, and forbidden to quit our ranks ; the discipline 
was severe. General Brune was the commanding officer of this 
fine army. We could say that we were commanded by a good 
general. May France give us many such ! One would be 
willing to follow him anywhere. Then during the three 
months' truce our army was magnificently re-enforced ; troops 
came in from every direction. How we longed for the 15th of 
September when we should leave this wretched garrison and 
go again into the field ! 

The happy day arrived, and the whole army rejoiced. We 
set out to join the line at a strong town called Viedane,^ 
where we began to breathe freel}^ and found provisions. Our 
scouts discovered a wine cave under a mountain ; we held a 
council to determine how we should get the wine. It was dan- 
gerous to rob the house, seeing that war had not been declared. 
So we decided that we should have an order. " But who will 
sign it ? " — " The pen," said the quartermaster, as he signed 
it with his left hand. — " How many rations ? " — " Five hun- 
dred," said the sergeant-major. — "We must show the order to 
the lieutenant and see what he will say." — " Take it," said 
the lieutenant, "and see if it will work." — "Come, let us go, 
we Avill see." We started off after having affixed the colo- 
nel's seal. His servant said to us, "I understand; I'll seal it 
with lamp-black." AVe presented our order, the distribution 
was immediately made, and "the pen" gave us five hundred 
rations of good wine. The captain and the lieutenant laughed 
heartily the next day. 

We now departed for Brescia where the army was assembled 
in a beautiful plain ; the commanding general reviewed us. 

1 This is the town of Viadana, on the right of tlie road from Cremona to Brescia, 
near Montechiari. 



84 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



Brescia is a strong city, easily defended ; a river flows by it 
wliicli is deep but not wide. ISText day we set out for a march 
to the Mincio ; there the whole army was in line, and it was 
decided to cross at a very high point which overlooked the 
other shore. A village concealed it from the Austrian army, 
which was very numerous. Twenty-five thousand men were 
sent over. There was a terrible battle ; our troops, thoroughly 




beaten, were obliged to fall back, with loss, upon the Mincio. 
Fortunately our army was protected by its very elevated po- 
sition overlooking the plain, which prevented our being thrown 
head over heels into the Mincio. General Suchet, with fifty 
heavy pieces, fired broadsides upon them which passed over 
our columns, cut down their ranks, and held them in the 
plain. Every one was working the pieces, and our three bat- 
talions of grenadiers were obliged to watch the whole affair 
without being able to take any part in it. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 85 

I saw a brave act done by a little voltigeur. Being left 
alone in the plain by the retreating army, he fired upon the 
advancing column, and shouted "Forward!" His boldness 
caused the division to wheel about; they sounded a charge 
and went to his aid. The general kept his eye upon him ; he 
sent his aide-de-camp for him. When the aide-de-camp reached 
the spot and saw the voltigeur, who was still in front of the 
line, he hastened to him and said, "The general wishes to see 
yox:i." — "iSTo," said he. — "' Come Avith me ; obey your general." 
— "But I have done nothing wrong." — "He wants to reward 
you." — "Ah ! that is another matter. I am with you." When 
brought before the general he was triumphantly received by 
all the officers, and entered on the list for a gun of honor. 

That evening we started for a position three miles higher 
up, near a mill which was on our left with a fine rising 
ground behind us. The regiment of hussars de la mort asked 
that they might be the first to cross over so as to avenge 
themselves for Montebello. Their colonel promised fifty louis 
to the hussar who should give the first sabre cut ahead of him, 
and they were given eighteen hundred men of the Polish in- 
fantry/ without knapsacks. They crossed the bridge and 
went to the right along the Mincio ; the Poles followed them 
on the run. They fell upon the head of the Austrian column, 
gave them no time to form a line of battle, sabred them and 
carried off six thousand prisoners and four flags. Our three 
battalions of grenadiers crossed immediately, commanded by 
General Lebrun, a good soldier. General Brune ordered him 
to take the redoubt which was battering the bridge, and we 
marched on it at once. They surrendered under fire ; there 
were two thousand men and two flags. The whole army 
passed over, and formed in line of battle. The columns faced 
each other ; we overcame them, took their baggage, caissons, 
and some pieces of cannon. The carnage was terrible. 

The Austrians took the road to Verona so as to pass the Adige. 
Our divisions pursued them; we blockaded the fort which 

1 A Polish legion was, indeed, already fighting for France; but as the law forbade 
the employment of foreign troops, this legion was set down as marching on behalf of 
Italy. 



86 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

overlooked the city at a height of three hundred feet. General 
Brune sent a flag of truce into the citadel to warn them that 
he was about to enter Verona, and that if a single gun was 
fired upon the city, he should immediatel}'' blow up the fort. 
Our three battalions of grenadiers passed through the city, 
and the Austrians only looked at us. We camped two miles 
farther on ; at midnight we were placed on the right wing of 
the army as outposts. I was on. guard at the advanced post. 
The adjutant-major came and posted us. I was the first to- 
stand sentinel ; they stationed me in a meadow, giving me the 
countersign. "Eire upon everything which passes on your 
right, without calling out 'Who goes there ?' and listen atten- 
tively lest you should be surprised." 

There I was for the first time alone as a forlorn sentinel ; in 
utter darkness, and kneeling on the ground to listen. At last 
the moon rose ; I was very glad to be able to look around me, 
and I was no longer afraid. A¥hat should I see a hundred 
steps off, but a Hungarian grenadier with his bear-skin cap ! 
He did not move. I took my best aim, and the whole line 
answered the sound of my gun.^ I thought that the enemy 
was everywhere. I reloaded my gun, and the corporal came 
up with three men. I pointed to my Hungarian ; they said, 
"Fire beyond, and we shall see all five of them." I took aim, 
I fired; nothing stirred. The adjutant-major came up ; "Hold 
on," said I to him, " don't you see him below there ? " We 
walked over. It was a willow-tree with a big head which had 
frightened me. The major told me that I had done well, that 
he should have been deceived himself, and that I had done my 
duty. 

We marched upon Vicenza, a beautiful city ; but the Aus- 
trians were marching on Padua by forced marches. There 
was joy everywhere on account of our good cantonments ; but 
our half-brigade with a regiment of chasseurs was appointed 
to go on to the Venetian coast. The general who commanded 
this expedition had only one arm. He had lanterns made so 
that we could march at night, and during the day we remained 
concealed among the reeds. We had to make small bridges 

^ In 1870, such panics were known ; they may occur at any time. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 87 

over the great ditches so as to take our cavalry and artillery 
across ; there were only marshes and iishermen's huts. By 
dint of exertion, we reached the appointed place ; it was a 
river of strong current, with an embankment separating it 
from the sea. This river, farther on, joined four others which 
emptied together into the sea and formed an estuary. We had 
to take possession of all these rivers in order to secure fresh 
water. 

A corps of the Austrian guard was stationed as advance 
guard upon the great causeway ; redoubts faced the river at 
the distance of a quarter of a league. A sentinel was sta- 
tioned upon the embankment. The sentinel spoke German 
and made acquaintance with the Austrian sentinel. Our sen- 
tinel asked him for some tobacco, and the German asked our 
sentinel for wood. Our sentinel told him that he would 
come with two of his comrades and bring him some when he 
was off duty. So our grenadiers set off with the wood ; the 
others brought the tobacco. The next day we promised them 
a large supply ; they were delighted and said, " We will give 
you some tobacco." 

In the morning fifty grenadiers arrived laden with Avood and 
were kindly received; they seized the Austrians' guns and 
took them prisoners. Immediately the trench was opened and 
the pieces placed in position. This was a good strategic point. 
The ships loaded Avith flour which were coming down the river 
on their way to the sea, fell into our hands, also two ships 
loaded with eels and fish. W^e had a ship all to ourselves, and 
we ate them cooked in every way. 

When the Venetians were thirsty they came and drew 
water, and the general got as much as he wanted for it. He 
had promised us three francs a day, but the accounts were 
soon settled up. He did not give us a sou, and sent every- 
thing home. Then General Clausel took the command. We 
Avere quiet only a little Avhile ; Mantua surrendered ; Ave saAv 
its garrison pass by, and Ave had orders to set out for Verona 
to celebrate the peace. In this place, Avhich is magnificent, 
the order of the day Avas read to us, and Ave learned that our 
half-brigade was appointed to go to Paris. What joy for us! 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



We crossed the whole of Italy ; nothing can be seen more 
beautiful than Turin, it is magnificent. We crossed Mont 
Cenis, reached Chambery, and from Chambery we went to 
Lyons. 

When our old regiment reached the place Bellecour, all the 
incroyahles quizzed us through their eye-glasses and asked if 
we came from Italy. We answered, "Yes, gentlemen." — 
''And you have not got the itch ? " — " No, gentlemen." Then 

rubbing their eye-glasses on their 
sleeves, they replied, " Incredible ' " 
They did not wish to have us 
quaitered m the city, but Geneial 
Lecleic compelled them to give 
us billets, and immediately he was 




granted seven permits for each company, for the oldest sol- 
diers. What a delight this was for those old soldiers ! The 
Consul never granted so many of them as on this occasion. 
The next day we were informed that we were not going to 
Paris as we had expected, but in fact to Portugal. The gen- 
eral counted us among the forty thousand men of his army; 
we were obliged to resign ourselves to going off in a deplorable 
condition, with clothing made of all sorts of cloth. 

We started for Bayonne ; the distance was great ; we 
suffered from the heat, but at last we reached the bridge of 
Irun. Our comrades found a stork's nest and took the two 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 89 

young ones. The authorities came to the colonel to reclaim 
them ; the alcalde requested him to restore them, because these 
birds were necessary in that climate for the destruction of 
serpents and lizards ; he said that the galleys was the penalty 
for those who killed storks in that country. Consequently they 
are seen there everywhere ; the plains are covered with them, 
and they walk about in the streets of the towns. Old wheels 
are put up for them on the top of high posts, and they make 
their nests in the gable-ends of the buildings. 

Having reached our first halting place, some of our soldiers 
found some Malaga wine at three sous a bottle, and they 
drank it as though it had been whey ; they fell down dead 
drunk. We had to put them in wagons and carry them along 
as if they had been calves. At the end of a week it was still 
necessary to feed our drunkards ; they could not hold the soup 
in their spoons. Not a soldier could eat his ration, the wine 
had been so strong. We reached Vittoria, a lovely town ; from 
there we went to Burgos, and from Burgos to Valladolid, a 
fine large city, where we remained a long time among the ver- 
min. The lice make up the soldiers' beds by dint of rustling 
among the straw, which is only thrown down in a heap. It is 
the custom among the Spaniards to take these lice up between 
their fingers and throw them on the ground, saying, " Let him 
who created thee nourish thee." 

I had the good fortune to be made a sapper ; I had a very 
long beard all round my face, and I was selected by Colonel 
Lepreux. I was dressed anew in fiill uniform, and we were 
quartered in the house of a citizen where we could get rid of 
the vermin ; but at night we were obliged to remain indoors 
for fear of being killed. 

As I was walking along the river, I met two French priests, 
emigres, who were in great want ; they stopped me to ask 
news from France. I told them that I had only passed through, 
but that I heard that the emigres were to be recalled, and 
that if they wished to go and see General Leclerc, they would 
be welcomed, and that the general was the brother-in-law of 
the First Consul. They went to see him the next day and 
heard good news ; they came again to me and took me by the 



90 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

hand, telling me that I had saved their lives. A fortnight 
after they received an order to return to France, and these 
unfortunate refugees embraced me ; I advised them to travel 
in disguise lest they should be insulted on their way to 
France. 

From Valladolid we departed for Salamanca, a large town 
where we remained a long time going through reviews and 
making petty Avarfare ; our vanguards reached the frontier 
of Portugal, and still there Avas no fighting. They brought 
away seventeen Avagons Avith a strong escort, and peace was 
made Avithout a battle.^ 

We returned to France by way of Valladolid. As Ave were 
leaving the city, the Spaniards killed our quartermasters with 
clubs,^ and had the audacity to come and take our flags from 
the colonel's guard-house in a village near Burgos. All the 
men Avere asleep ; the sentinel cried, "■ To arms," and it was 
time ; they Avere just going out of the village. They Avere 
caught by our grenadiers, Avho bayoneted them without mercy. 

We reached Burgos, and set out for Vittoria. Thence we 
crossed the frontier on our way to Bayonne, our frontier city. 
We passed all the halting places until we came to Bordeaux, 
where we were to stop. I was quartered upon an old lady who 
was sick. I presented myself with my billet, and she was a 
little frightened on seeing my long beard. I reassured her as 
well as I could, but she said, " I am afraid of soldiers." — 
"Fear nothing, madame, I ask nothing, and my comrade is a 
very nice fellow." — " Very well, I Avill keep you at my house ; 
you shall be Avell fed and have comfortable beds." Ah ! how 
comfortably we were housed ! After dinner, she sent her 
maid for me. " I sent for you to tell you that I am reassured, 
and that you are very quiet ; I have ordered my servant to 
take good care of you." — " Thank you, madame." 

We set out to go to Tours folloAving the appointed halting- 
places, and on arriving there we Avere received by General 
Beauchou, Avho presented to us an old soldier who had served 

1 By the two treaties of June and September, 1801, Portugal engaged to pay 25,000,- 
000 francs to France. 

2 Quartermasters go on ahead of the forces, to prepare lodgings. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 91 

eighty-four years as a private in our half-brigade. The Consul 
had given him, on retiring, the general's table ; he was one 
hundred and two years old, and his son was chief of the bat- 
talion. A footstool was brought to him ; he wore the uniform 
of an officer, but without epaulets. There was in the corj)s a 
sergeant of his time, who had served thirty-three years. 

After leaving this beautiful city of Tours, we went into 
quarters at Le Mans (in the department of the Sarthe), which 
is considered the best garrison in France. The splendid na- 
tional guard marched in front of us, and there was great joy 
in the town, on seeing a good old regiment quartered there. 
The walls of the barracks were still stained with the blood of 
the victims who had been murdered by the Chouans, and we 
were lodged for two months in private houses where we were 
received as brothers. The barracks were repaired and we re- 
mained there a year. The colonel married a young lady of 
Alengon who was very rich, and entertainments were given in 
the town. There were a great many invitations. I was ap- 
pointed to carry the invitations to the houses in the country. 
The colonel was generous to the regiment; all the ofiicers 
were invited. 

At the expiration of three months, the barracks made the 
bread-ofEering, and there were three litters trimmed with velvet, 
loaded with bread and borne by six sappers. The colonel's 
bride took up the collection, and my captain, Merle, who was 
appointed commandant, escorted our fair collector. The drum- 
major was the porter. I carried the plate and madame made the 
acknowledgments. Nine hundred francs were taken up in the 
collection for the poor ; the whole regiment was at the mass. 
A litter loaded with blessed bread was taken to the colonel's 
house, and there the parcels were m.ade up, with a laurel 
branch in each package and a letter of invitation. Two sap- 
pers carried the large hamper full of blessed bread, and I was 
appointed to accompany the two sappers who carried the 
hamper. They remained at the door ; I took a package and 
a letter ; I presented myself ; each time from three to six 
francs were given me. This tour through the city and the 
country houses was worth a hundred crowns to me. The 



92 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

colonel wislied to know Avhether I had been well paid for the 
trouble ; I showed him my pockets. When he saw all that 
money, he divided it in two portions and said to me, " There, 
take half for yourself, and the other half you can divide be- 
tween the sappers." 

My two porters knew nothing of what had taken place. 
I led them back to the barracks and laid the money down be- 
fore the sergeant and the corporal. They were overcome with 
joy, when they saw me place on the table before them several 
handf uls of silver. " What ! have you stolen the regiment 
cash-box ? For whom is all this money ? " said the ser- 
geant. — "It is for you, divide it; it is earnings from the 
blessed bread." We each had fifteen francs ; they were pleased 
with me, they pressed my hand. I had my fifteen francs, and 
my hundred and fifty francs ; this was a fortune for me. They 
wanted to treat me, I would not consent : " Excuse me. To- 
morrow I will pay for a bottle of brandy, and that is all that 
is necessary to be done. I'll do the treating, sergeant, do you 
understand?" — "There is nothing more to be said; he is 
wiser than we." 

And the next day I got a bottle of brandy, and they were 
quite satisfied. That fine dinner of the colonel's was worth a 
louis to me ; he gave it to me for staying all night. The ball 
was kept up until daylight ; the guests sat down to the table 
at three o'clock, and I was well rewarded. A fortnight after, 
I received a letter from Paris, and I was surprised (but what 
a surprise !). It was from my dear sister, who had discovered 
me through the efforts of her master, who had a relative in 
the office of the minister of war. It was a great joy for me to 
know that she was in Paris, as cook at the house of a hatter, 
on the Place du Pont-j!^euf. 

The council of administration of the regiment had orders 
to nominate soldiers for the cross of honor, and my name was 
put on the list of those who deserved it. My commandant. 
Merle, and the colonel called me up to tell me about it ; it had 
come from the office of the minister of war. I replied, " I 
thank you, my commandant." — "The colonel and I have 
claimed the promise of the Consul to you in reference to the 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 



93 



guard, and I have signed this application with the colonel, 
it is your due." A fortnight after, the colonel sent for me. 
" The good news has come. You are appointed to the guard ; 
you shall be paid off and depart. I will give you a letter of 
recommendation to General Hulin, who is a great friend of 
mine. Go, tell your commandant about it, he will be very 
glad to hear of it." I was glad to set out for Paris, and to be 
able to go and embrace my good sister whom I had not seen 




since she was seven years old. My commandant did me the 
kindness to say, " If ever I go to Paris, I shall ask to see you. 
Now lose no time, go back to the barracks." 

I told the good news to all my comrades, who said, "We 
will all see you off." The sergeant and the corporal also said, 
" We will all go as escort to our brave sapper." When I was 
paid off, I set out from Le Mans with two hundred francs in 
my purse (a fortune for a poor soldier), accompanied by my 
good comrades with the sergeant and corporal at their head. 
They had to make a halt and leave us after going a mile, and I 



94 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

reached Paris the 2d Germinal, year XI, and went to the bar- 
racks of the Eeuillants, near the Place Vendome ; it is called 
the barrack of the Capuchins. 

I was appointed to mess with the third company of the first 
battalion. My captain's name was Renard ; he had only one 
fault, and that was being too small. As a compensation for 
this, he had the voice of a Stentor ; he was big when he gave 
command; he was a man who had had much experience, and 
was my captain ever afterward. I was conducted to his house, 
he received me cordially. My long beard made him laugh, 
and he asked my permission to touch it. '' If you were larger, 
I would give you a place among our sappers ; you are too 
small." — " But, captain, I have a gun of honor." — " Is it 
possible ? " — " Yes, captain. I have a letter for General 
Hulin from my colonel, also a letter for his brother, a cloth 
merchant on the Porte St. Denis." — -'Very well, I will keep 
you in my company. To-morrow, at noon, I will go with you 
to the office of the minister, and there we will see." — " It 
was the minister himself who found me on my gun at Monte- 
bello." — " Ah ! after hearing all this, I wish to-morrow were 
here, that I might see if he would recognize you." — "I wore 
no beard at Montebello, but he has my name, for he wrote it 
down in a little green memorandum book." — " Very well, to- 
morrow at noon, I will present you." 

The next day, at noon, we started out to go to the minister's 
office ; we sent in our names and were taken into the pres- 
ence of the minister. "Well, captain, you bring me a fine 
sapper. What does he want with me ? " — '•' He says that 
you recommended him for a position in the guard." — " What 
is your name ? " — " Jean-Roch Coignet, it was I who was on 
the gun at Montebello." — "Indeed! it was you?" — "Yes, 
general." — " Did you receive my letter ? " — " My colonel, 
M. Lepreux, did." — "You are right. Go into the office oppo- 
site, ask for the portfolio of the officers of the 96th half- 
brigade, tell your name and bring me a paper which I have 
signed for you." 

I went to inquire at the office ; they gazed at my beard 
without granting my request. This beard was thirteen inches 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 95 

long, and they thought it was artificial. "Is it natural?" 
asked the chief. I took hold of it and pulled it ; " See," said I 
to him, "it sticks to my chin and is well rooted." — "Well, 
my good sapper, here is a paper worthy of you." — "Thank 
you." 

Then I took the paper to the minister, who said to me, " You 
see I have not forgotten you. You shall wear a little ma- 
chine," ^ said he, as he laid his hand on my coat. "And you, 
Eenard, you will receive a letter for him to-morrow at ten 
o'clock ; he is a soldier worth having, be sure to keep him in 
your company." I thanked the minister, and we started off 
at once to go to the house of General Davoust, colonel-general, 
of the foot grenadiers. He received us pleasantly, and said, 
" You bring me a sapper who has a fine beard." — "I want to 
keep him in my company," said my captain to him ; " he has 
a gun of honor. But he is very small." '^ 

He made me stand beside him and said, " You are not tall 
enough for a grenadier." — " But I would like to keep the 
place, general." — "We must cheat the measure. When he 
passes under the measure make him put some packs of cards 
in his stockings. See there," said he, "he lacks six lines. 
Never mind, you will see that with two packs of cards under 
each foot, he will have his six inches ; you must go with him." 
-^"Certainly, general." — "If he is accepted, he will be the 
smallest of my grenadiers." — "But he is to be decorated." 
— " Ah ! that makes a difference, do your best to have him 
accepted." 

Then we went off to get the cards and put them in my 
stockings. My captain managed everything well ; he was 
nimble as a fish and soon got it all over. That very evening, 
I was standing straight as a line under the measure, and my 
captain was there also, holding himself very erect, thinking 
by that means to make me taller. However, I measured my 
six inches, thanks to my packs of cards. I went off triumphant. 

1 An allusion to the decoration which was to ornament his button-hole. 

2 To walk about so much with a simple grenadier would not accord with the habits 
of military administration in our days ; the story shows how much pains was then 
taken with the recruiting of the guard. 



96 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

My captain was also delighted ; I was admitted into his com- 
pany. ''You must cut off your fine beard," said he. — "Per- 
mit me to wear it a fortnight longer ; I would like to make a 
few visits before cutting it off." — "I grant you a month, but 
you must drill." — " Thank you very much for all your trouble 
on my account." — "I shall have you entered on the pa3f-roll 
from yesterday." — "Permit me to take my letter?" — "Cer- 
tainly," said he. 

He sent for a sergeant-major and said to him, " Here is a 
little grenadier. Give a permit to Coignet to attend to his 
business, and have it delivered to him at once so he can go in 
and out. Put him in the smallest mess. You have the biggest 
man in it, and now you shall have the smallest." — "Just the 
thing, he is alone; he is a good comrade; we can say 'the 
smallest with the biggest.' " The sergeant-major conducted 
me to my room, and presented me to my comrades. One of 
the grenadiers, a jolly fellow, six feet four inches tall, burst 
out laughing on seeing how small I was. " Well," said the 
sergeant to him, "here is your bedfellow." — "I could hide 
him under my coat and smuggle him off." I laughed at this, 
and supper being ready (we did not eat from one dish, each 
one had his own soup-tureen), I gave ten francs to the cor- 
poral. Every one was pleased at this. The corporal said, 
"You must go with your comrade and buy a soup-tureen to- 
morrow." The next day we went to buy my soup-tureen, and 
I treated my comrade to two bottles of beer. On returning to 
the barracks, I asked permission to go out until the roll-call 
at noon. " Go," said my corporal. 

I Hew to see my good sister at the hatter's house on the 
Place du Pont-Neuf. I presented myself Avith the letter which 
the master of the house had had the kindness to write me, and 
they Avere surprised to see such a beard as mine. " I am the 
soldier to whom you were so good as to write at Le Mans. I 
have come to see my sister Marianne ; here is your letter." — 
" It is actually so," said he ; " come, but wait a moment, your 
long beard might frighten her." 

He returned and said to me, " She expects you, I will go 
with you." 




"He received us pleasantly, and said, "^You bring me a sapper who has 
a fine heard.'" — Pas:e 95. 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 



97 



I went up to that big mother and said, " I am your brother ; 
come, do not be afraid to kiss me." She came to me, crying 
with joy. I said to her, "I have two letters from my fatlier, 
dated from Marengo." 

Then the master said to me, "That was a hot day." — "Ah, 
true enough, sir." But she said, " My elder brother is here in 
Paris." — " Is it possible ? " — " Yes, he is coming to see me 
to-morrow at noon." — "I am so glad. I am in the Consul's 
guard ; I will run back to the roll-call and return to see him. 
I shall be back in an 
hour." 

I thanked the mas- 
ter 'and hastened to 
the roll-call ; I re- 
turned as quickly as 
possible, but my 
brother had already 
arrived. My sister 
had told him that I 
was in the Consul's 
guard. "Beware," 
said he to her, "of 
making the acquaint- 
ance of a soldier; 
do not bring shame 
upon us, we have had 
trouble enough al- 
ready." — " But, my dear," said she, 
the roll-call and you will see him." 

She saw me as I was returning and made him conceal him- 
self. I said, "Well, sister, has not my brother Pierre come 
yet ? " — "' Yes," she replied, " but he says you are not my 
brother." — " Indeed," said I, " very well, tell him that it was 
he who carried me away from Druyes to Etais, where he hired 
me out, when he had a sore arm." 

At this he rushed to me, and we were all three locked in 
one another's arms, weeping for joy so loudly that every 
one in the house hastened to see the poor creatures who 




he is coming back after 



98 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

were now restored to one another after seventeen years of 
separation. 

Tlie joy and grief were so intense that my brother and sis- 
ter could not sustain it ; I lost them both. I buried my poor 
sister at the end of six weeks ; she fell sick a week after we 
met, and we were obliged to take her to a hospital, where she 
died. I accompanied her remains to their last resting place. 
My brother could not survive her loss. I sent him back to 
the country, where he died also. I lost them both within the 
space of three months. I have never recovered from that 
trouble. 

Having done all I could for them I returned to my military 
duties, and told my sorrows to my captain, who pitied me sin- 
cerely. I was promptly provided with a uniform and drilled. 
I continued to be skilful as before in the use of arms and in 
fencing; I was introduced to the drill-masters, who pushed 
me forward rapidly. At the end of a year, there was a con- 
test, and I was applauded for my strength and my modesty 
in yielding the point of honor. Afterwards I was presented 
by the head master in the Eue Richelieu for a contest with 
some very skilful young men, and there I showed what I could 
do. The masters embraced me and skilful pupils invited me 
out. Our own fencing-master overwhelmed me with atten- 
tions, and said to them, " Don't let him deceive you, you have 
seen nothing; he has concealed his skill and behaved like an 
angel. We could make a master of him, if he wished, but he 
said, ' No, I will continue to be a pupil.' That's what he said." 

Every day I went to the drills so as to learn the movements 
of the guard, and I was not long in becoming acquainted with 
them ; at the end of a month I was dismissed and put into the 
battalion. The discipline was not severe ; we turned out to the 
roll-call every morning in our linen shirts and breeches (with 
no stockings on our legs) and then went back to our beds. 
But a colonel, named Dorsenne, came to us from Egypt all 
covered with wounds ; he was just the sort of soldier needed 
to discipline and drill an efficient guard. In a year's time we 
might have served as a model for the whole army. He was 
so severe that he made the most unruly soldier tremble ; he 



THIRD NOTE-BOOK. 99 

reformed all abuses. He might have been held up as an 
example for all our generals, both for courage and bearing. 
A finer looking soldier was not to be seen on the battle-field. 
I have seen him one moment covered with dirt by shells, and 
the next he would be up again saying, " It is nothing, grena- 
diers, your general is near you." 

We were informed that the First Consul was to pass through 
our barracks, and that we must be on the lookout for him. 
But he took us by surprise and found us in our beds ; he was 
accompanied by his favorite general, Lannes. A misfortune 
had just happened to us ; some grenadiers had committed 
suicide, no one knew why. The Consul went through all the 
rooms and finally came to my bedside. My comrade, who 
was six feet four inches tall, stretched himself out on seeing 
the Consul beside our bed ; his feet stuck out of the bedstead 
more than a foot. The Consul thought that there were two 
grenadiers in a line, and came to the head of our bed to assure 
himself of the fact, and passed his hand along the body of my 
comrade, to be sure he was not mistaken. " Why ! " said he, 
" these bedsteads are too short for my grenadiers. Do you see, 
Lannes ? All the beds of my guard must be changed. Make 
a note of it, and have new bedsteads made for the whole guard ; 
these will do for the garrison." So my bedfellow caused an 
outlay of more than a million francs, and the whole guard had 
new beds seven feet long. 

The Consul delivered a severe lecture to all our officers, and 
looked into everything ; he had a piece of bread brought to 
him. "That is not the right kind," said he. "I pay for 
white bread, I wish to have it every day. Do you understand, 
Lannes ? Send your aide, and order the quartermaster to 
come to me." To us he said, — 

" I will review you on Sunday ; I want to see you. There 
are malcontents among you. I will hear your complaints." 

Then they returned to the Tuileries. In the order that he 
sent for the Sunday review, Colonel Dorsenne recommended 
that nothing should be neglected in the uniforms of the men. 
The whole store of clothing was turned upside down ; all the 
old uniforms were renovated, and he inspected us at ten o'clock. 



100 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

He was so stern that he made the officers tremble. At eleven 
o'clock we set out for the Tuileries ; at noon the Consul came 
down to review us mounted on a white horse, which, it was 
said, Louis XVI. had ridden. This horse was of great beauty, 
with a tremendous mane and tail ; he marched through the 
ranks with the step of a man ; he was a magnificent looking 
horse. 

The Consul had us open ranks ; he walked slowly and 
received many petitions ; he took them himself and then 
handed them to General Lannes. He stopped wherever he 
saw a soldier presenting arms, and spoke to him. He was 
pleased with oi;r appearance and ordered us to march on. We 
found some casks of wine at the barracks, and a quart of it 
was distributed to each man. The petitions were almost all 
granted, and the content was general. 





J' 'filJHi^ 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 



MY DECORATION. 1 AM POISONED. RETURN TO MY COUN- 
TRY. THE CAMP or BOULOGNE AND THE FIRST AUSTRIAN 

CAMPAIGN. 



The non-coramissioned officers and soldiers who had been 
appointed to receive the cross were summoned, and there were 
eighteen hundred of us in the guard. The ceremony took 
place in the dome of the Invalides, June 14, 1804. We were 
stationed in the following order: to the right on entering, the 
guard occupied the steps all the way to the top, the soldiers of 
the army were on the opposite steps, and the disabled soldiers 
filled the back part of the dome up to the ceiling. The corjos 
of officers were on the floor ; the whole chapel was full. 

The Consul arrived at noon, mounted on a horse covered 
with gold ; his stirrups were of solid gold.^ This elegant 
horse was a present from the Grand Turk ; it was necessary 
to set a guard over him, so as to prevent any one from 
approaching him (the saddle was covered with diamonds). 
He entered. The most profound silence reigned in the chapel. 
He passed before the whole corps of officers, and seated him- 

1 This " solid gold " existed only in Coignet's imagination; but I have not been 
willing to omit any of his naiVe statements, which give such originality to his 
narrative. 



102 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

self on the throne, which was to the right in the back part of 
the dome. Josephine was opposite in a loge to the left, 
Eugene at the foot of the throne holding a pin cushion stuck 
full of pins, and Murat had a little boat filled with crosses. 
The ceremony began with the officers of high rank, who were 
called up according to their degrees. After all the grand 
crosses had been distributed, one was sent to Josephine, as 
she sat in her loge, and was presented to her on a salver by 
Eugene and Murat. 

Then they called out, " Jean-Roch Coignet ! " I was on the 
second step. I passed in front of my comrades, through the 
main body of the dome and on to the foot of the throne. 
Here I was stopped by Beauharnais, who said to me, " You 
mustn't go any farther." But Murat answered him, " Prince, 
the candidates for the cross of the Legion of Honor are 
equals ; he has been called, he can pass up." 1 mounted the 
steps to the throne. I presented myself straight as an arrow 
before the Consul, who said that I was a brave defender of 
my country, and that I had given proof of it. At the words, 
" Accept thy Consul's cross," I lowered my right hand, which 
was at salute against my fur cap, and took my cross by the 
ribbon. Not knowing what to do with it, I was about to 
move backwards down the steps of the throne when the 
Consul called me up to him again, took my cross, passed it 
through the button-hole of my coat and fastened it there with 
a pin taken from the cushion which Beauharnais held. I 
descended the throne, and as I passed by the staff which occu- 
pied the floor, I met my colonel, M. Lepreux, and Commandant 
Merle, Avho were awaiting their decorations. They both em- 
braced me before the whole corps of officers, and I went out 
of the dome. 

I could scarcely make my way, the crowd pressed so eagerly 
around me to see my cross. Some beautiful women who could 
get near enough to me to touch my cross asked permission to 
embrace me.^ I served as a paten that day for all the ladies 
and gentlemen I met as I went out. I reached the bridge of 

1 There is much less embracing nowadays. But at that time it was still considered 
a testimonial of esteem, and was quite customary. 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 103 

the Revolution, where I fonnd my old regiment, which was in 
line on the bridge. Compliments Avere showered upon me 
from all sides. I finally passed through the crowd and entered 
the garden of the Tuileries, where I had great difficulty in 
making my way to my barracks. 

When I came to the door the sentinel presented arms. I 
turned back to see if there was an officer near, and found that 
I was all alone. "Is it to me that you are presenting arms ?" 
— "Yes," he answered, "we are ordered to present arms be- 
fore those decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honor." 
I took his hand and shook it heartily, and asked him his name 
and his company. Then forcing him to take the five francs I 
put in his hand, I said, " I invite you to breakfast with me as 
soon as you are off guard." Lord ! how hungry I was ! I 
ordered ten litres of wine for my mess, and said to the cook, 
" That is for my comrades." The corporal saw the bottles and 
said, " Who sent up this wine ? " — " Coignet ordered it ; he 
was nearly starved. I gave him his supper at once, for the 
lieutenant had come for him ; they went off arm in arm, and 
he told me to tell you to drink his health." 

My lieutenant, who had seen me receive the first decoration, 
had kept his eye upon me, and had caught up with me. He 
said very kindly, " You must spend the whole evening with 
me. We will go and see the illuminations, and afterwards we 
will go to the Palais Royal and take a cup of coffee. The 
roll will not be called till midnight, and we need not return 
till we choose ; I will take the responsibility." 

We walked about in the garden for an hour. He took me 
to the cafe Borel, at the end of the Palais Royal, and made me 
go down into a large cellar,^ where there were a great many 
people. They crowded around us. The master of the cafe 
came to my lieutenant and said, " I will order for you any- 
thing you Avant. The members of the Legion of Honor are 
entertained gratis." The big citizens who heard M. Borel, 
first stared at us and then took possession of us. Punch flowed 
freely. My lieutenant told them that I Avas the first man 

1 Afterwards known by the name of the Cafe des Aveugles, on account of the blind 
musicians who composed the orchestra. 



104 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

decorated, and then all of them rushed up to me crying 
out, " Come, let us drink his health." I was filled with con- 
fusion. They said to me, '•' Drink, brave fellow ! " — "I can- 
not drink, gentlemen, I thank you." Everybody feasted us, 
we were invited to sit down at every table. At last we 
thanked the host and bade him farewell, and at midnight we 
returned to our barracks. My lieutenant was as sober as I 
was ; we took very little to drink. How delightful that even- 
ing had been to me ! I had never known anything like it 
before. 

Next morning my lieutenant took me to see our captain, 
and he embraced us both and made us take a drink of brandy 
with him. " At noon," said he, " you will go with the lieu- 
tenant and be presented to M. de Lacepede, as the man who 
received the first decoration ; that is the order." 

We took a cab. On reaching the court we mounted the 
great stairway, then the folding-doors opened and we were 
announced. The chancellor appeared; he had a long, big 
nose. My lieutenant told him that I had been the first man 
decorated. He embraced me and guided my hand while I 
wrote all the letters of my name in the great register. He 
accompanied us to the door of the great stairway. All the 
guard came in carriages to the chancellor's office. I paid a 
visit to the brother of my colonel at the Porte St. Denis, 
where I purchased some nankeen to make some short breeches. 
Long stockings and silver garter-buckles Avere the rule for a 
summer uniform. 

Nothing could be handsomer than that uniform. When we 
were on dress parade we wore a blue coat with white lapels, 
sloped low down on the breast, a vest of white basine, short 
breeches, gaiters also of white basine, silver buckles on the 
shoes and breeches, a double cravat, white underneath and 
black on the outside, Avith a narrow edge of white showing at 
the top. In undress, we wore a blue coat, white basine vest, 
nankeen breeches, and seamless white cotton stockings. In 
addition to all this we wore pigeon wings powdered and a 
queue six inches long, cut off at the end like a brush and 
tied with a black worsted ribbon, with ends exactly two 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 105 

inches long. Add to this the bearskin cap and its long 
plume, and you have the summer uniform of the imperial 
guard. But one thing of which I can give no real idea is 
the extreme neatness which was required of us. When we 
passed through the grating of the barracks the orderlies 
inspected us, and if there was a speck of dust on our shoes or 
a bit of powder on the collar of our coats we were sent back. 
We were splendid to look at, but abominably uncomfortable. 

When I was ready to present myself to General Hulin, he 
received me and made me a present of a piece of the ribbon 
of the Legion of Honor. The next day I wanted to go to see 
M. Champromain, a wood merchant living near the Jardin des 
Plantes. I went along the Rue St. Honore ; when I reached 
the Palais Eoyal I met a superb looking man, who stopped me 
to look at my cross and asked me to do him the kindness to 
take a cup of coffee with him. I refused, but he insisted so 
that I allowed myself to be tempted. He took me to the 
Cafe de la Regence, on the square with the Palais Royal, 
which occupies the right side of the square. When we 
reached that fine cafe he ordered two cups of black coffee. 
As for me I was looking at the woman behind the counter, 
who was very beautiful. I gazed at her with all the strength 
of my twenty -seven years. The gentleman said to me, 
" Your coffee will get cold, drink it." And as soon as I had 
done so he rose and said to me, "I am in a hurry." Then he 
paid his bill and went out. As soon as I had finished my cup 
I got up, but he had disappeared. 

As I was going out of the cafe I fell on the pavement. My 
whole body was writhing with pain. I was drawn double. I 
had fearful cramp in my bowels. The people in the cafe ran 
to my assistance, had me taken to our hospital at Gros-Cail- 
lou, and I was treated at once. They made me drink all 
sorts of stuff, warmed my bed, and sent for M. Suze, the 
head physician, an excellent man who was badly scarred by 
the small-pox and blind in one eye. A nurse with bare arms 
rubbed my stomach with all his strength, and another was at 
hand to relieve him, and thus it was day and night for eight 
days. But still the cramp never left me. 



106 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



They were obliged to put cupping glasses on my stomach, 
to draw a blister, and when the fire went out under them they 
cut the skin with a penknife. Then they put a glass bowl 
turned upside down on my stomach to pump the blood. In 
this way I became so ex- 
hausted that one could 
almost see thiough me 
And the nuises contin- 
ued to rub me night and 
day, and changed my 
clothing foui times a 
day on account ol the 
profuse sweatb Every 
morning I gave twentj-- 
four sous to my t^v^o 
nurses for then kind 
care. M. Suze came 





~-^j?<i,yn^ / 



three times a day, and they cupped me constantly and applied 
all sorts of remedies, but nothing had any effect. Nothing 
passed through my bowels. My condition was reported to 
the First Consul, who ordered two physicians to attend me 
during the night, and nurses night and day. An officer of 
the regular service came every day to ask after me. Every 
possible care was lavished on me. An order was given to 
allow all who wished to see me to enter without permits, and 



FOURTH KOTE-BOOK, 107 

my greatest consolation was gazing upon my cross which was 
placed near me. I endured all sorts of suffering in the hope 
of being cured. 

I remained in this condition forty days. A consultation of 
physicians was held and Baron Larrey was called in. They 
put me on a mattress on a table well covered up, and he said 
to them, *' Gentlemen, this brave soldier is full of pluck ; 
consult and tell me your opinion." They consulted together 
and I could not hear what they said. M. Larrey said, " Have 
a bucket of ice and some lemonade brought, and we will 
make him drink it ; if that passes through him we will see 
what can be done." 

A large silver goblet of lemonade well sweetened was 
brought me ; I drank it and did not vomit it up. The doctors 
watched by me and half an hour after they gave me a second. 
M. Larrey said to them, " I have saved the upper part, now 
you save the lower." They concluded to make me take a 
remedy of their OAvn concoction, and it had a good effect. 
There came away three lumps, one about the size of a walnut, 
and the others not quite so large, and the first was full of 
verdigris. These were carefully put aside, and the doctors 
remained two hours longer with me. M. Larrey said to me, 
" You are saved. I will come to see you ; " and he did come 
to see me three times. I owe my life to him and M. Suze. I 
was well cared for; preserves were given me, and when I was 
able to eat I had some excellent chocolate and four ounces of 
Malaga wine which I could not drink. I gave it to the sick- 
est man in the room. After the end of another week fried 
fish was given me and mutton and a bottle of wine of ISTuits. 
I gave half of it to my comrades. The preserves came from 
outside, I know not from whose kind hand. I received visits 
every day. M. Morin, who had a chateau in my native 
country, heard that I was at the hospital, and came to see me, 
and offered to take me to stay at his chateau till I recuperated. 
I. accepted his offer gratefully. " You Avill find plenty of good 
milk there," said he, " and I will give orders that you shall be 
well taken care of." 

The faithful care of the physicians and nurses saved me 



108 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

from the revenge which had been attempted upon me by one 
who could not wreak it upon the First Consul himself ; for it 
was one of the spies of Cadoudal who had watched his oppor- 
tunity to kill me. When I was convalescent I was laid on a 
sofa near the window to get the fresh air. M. Suze had my 
hair combed and told the nurse that he did not wish to have 
it cut off. It required a great deal of time and powder, 
and the nurse had to put on a mask. There was a double 
glass to the mask so as to prevent inhaling the poison, 
my hair was so filled with the verdigris. This operation 
occupied a whole hour. I gave the nurse three francs for 
having preserved my hair. In those days pigeon wings were 
worn, and we had to put our hair in curl papers at night, and 
in the morning the hairdresser came to the guard-house to 
arrange our hair. At noon the guard going on duty looked 
very differently from the guard coming in. We were greatly 
relieved when the order came to cut off all the queues. It 
created quite a revolution in the army, particularly among the 
cavalry.^ 

My convalesence was apparent. I told M. Suze that I felt 
very well and that I wanted a permit to try the air of my 
native region, as I was invited to go to a chateau in that 
country till I was entirely well again, that the milk there 
would be very good for me. " I will give you three months' 
leave if you wish," said he, '' but promise me to be prudent." 
— "I swear I will." 

He gave me a pass, and on my return to the barracks I pre- 
sented it with my sick leave to the captain, who had me paid 
off. I started oif dressed in a new uniform at the expense of 
the government, and went by coach to Auxerre, where I 
lodged at Monfort's, at the Paris gate. I remembered a rela- 
tive of mine there, Father Toussaint Armancier. I sent for 
him and asked him if he had ever heard what had become of 
my little brother whom I had not seen since he was six years 
old. He answered, " I know where he is. He is at Beauvoir, 

1 This was not only a question of ornament in certain branches of the cavalry. 
The hussars, for instance, had a habit of hiding there what gold pieces they pos- 
sessed. 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 109 

living with Thibault tlie miller." — '^ Send for him. My God, 
I am so thankful ! " 

Next day he came and threw himself into my arms. He 
could scarcely bear his joy at seeing me so fine, all dressed in 
uniform and wearing the cross. " My brother," said he, " I 
am so glad." — "I am going back to our native place," said I, 
" and if you wish it I will take you with me and put you in 
business. I have some good friends in Paris." — ''All right," 
said he, '' come for me and I will go with you." — "I promise 
you I will be ready. Have you any money ? " — " Yes," 
said he, " I have seven hundred francs." — " That is a proof 
of your good character, my dear felloAv." Then we dined 
together like two children who had just found each other. 

The next day, after breakfast, we each started for our 
respective abodes. On my arrival at Courson, I was stopped 
by a brigadier of the gendarmes, named Trubert, who asked 
me if I was under orders. I answered, " Look at my cross 
and my uniform ; they are my passport." He was completely 
dumfounded. I went on to Druyes. On Saturday night I 
reached M. Morin's chateau of Bouloy, where I found I was 
expected. As I had come up the valley no one had seen me. 
The next morning- being Sunday, I dressed myself in full 
uniform to go to mass. I asked where I could get a seat in 
one of the stalls. One was shown me next the mayor, M. 
Tremeau, who is still living, and I went into the choir. I sat 
down in the seat pointed out for me, and the mayor seated 
himself on my left. I bowed to him. " Ah ! indeed, is it 
you, Coignet ? " — " Yes, sir." — "I was expecting you. I 
received a letter from M. Morin announcing your arrival." — 
" Thank you. I shall have the honor of paying you a visit 
after mass." — "I shall expect you." 

Everybody came over on the side of the choir to see the 
fine soldier with his decoration. I recognized my stepmother 
in front of me, and my father who stood with his back 
towards me. He sang among the choristers. I left the 
church before the mass was quite over, and went to my 
father's house. The door was not shut. I remained standing, 
and my father came and found me waiting for him in the 



110 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

middle of the room. I went up to him to embrace him ; he 
pressed me in his arms, and I retixrned the embrace. My 
stepmother came forward also to kiss me. "Do not come 
near me," said I to her. " I do not like Judas kisses. Go 
away, I have a horror of you." — " Come, my son," said my 
father, " be seated. " Why did you not come to your father's 
house ? " — "I did not wish to receive your hospitality in the 
presence of your wife whom I detest. Strangers offered me 
a resting-place for friendship's sake, and I have accepted it. 
I am going now to see the mayor, and I will come to see you 




to-morrow at noon, if you will permit me." — "I shall look 
for you." 

I started for the village and found a crowd awaiting me 
along the way, who called out, " There he is, good M. 
Coignet ; he has not wasted his time, he has earned a beauti- 
ful cross ! The good God has blessed him on account of all 
the suffering his stepmother made him endure ! " — " Let me 
pass," said I to them. " I will see you all, my good friends. 
Allow me to go on to the city to see M. Tremeau." 

I w;as received with open arms by M. Tremeau, who said to 
me, "I have ordered a seat for you at my table, and my 
brothers and I will take you out hunting to cheer you up ; 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. Ill 

you carry your passport on your breast." — '' Thank you ; I 
will come to see you." What a comfort all this kindly wel- 
come was to me ! 

I returned to my hotel, and the next day I went down to 
my father's. I said to him, " I have at last found my little 
brother, after being so unfortunate as to lose both the others, 
one of whom died not far from you without receiving any 
kind care from you. This is another of your wife's terrible 
acts, and you, poor weak man, closed your door upon your 
oldest son. You must now settle your accounts with us ; you 
know that you owe us three thousand francs." 

My stepmother, who was seated beside the fire, said to me, 
"How could we pay yoix all that money ? " — "I cannot per- 
mit such a wretch of woman as you are to have anything to 
say in what concerns me. This matter is altogether between 
me and my father. If it were not for the respect I owe him, 
I would knock your head off your shoulders ; you will never 
pull my nose with the tweezers again. Miserable wretch, are 
you not ashamed of having taken those two innocent creatures 
into the woods and left them there to the mercy of God ? 
Look at your crime, you serpent ! If the fear of God did 
not restrain me, I should kill you." My father was very pale. 
I was trembling from the outburst I had permitted myself to 
make before him, but I felt that I had gained some satisfac- 
tion from it. 

All through the country they talked of nothing but me. I 
received visits from every direction, which I returned, and 
was everywhere received with friendly kindness. I received 
a letter from M. de la Bergerie, prefect of the Yonne, written 
by command of Marshal Davoust, who had arrived at 
Auxerre, requesting me to meet the marshal and take part in 
a wolf-hunt in the forest of Fretoy, near Courson. I went, 
accompanied by the Messrs. Tremeau, who very kindly told me 
that to save my uniform I ought to go in hunting dress. I 
looked like a real huntsman with my ribbon of the Legion of 
Honor. The marshal recognized me immediately. "Here is 
my grenadier," said he to the prefect ; " jow. can follow the 
hunt all day long." The guards found a place for us, and the 



112 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

huntsmen who beat about the bushes started off at a given 
signal. Two wolves and some foxes were killed. Shooting 
deer was forbidden, but we were allowed to hunt other game 
in the evening and to fire on all. The hunt was over at four 
o'clock, and the Messrs. Tremeau and I were invited to 
dinner. The dinner was a splendid affair. I was triumph- 
antly received. The marshal said to the prefect, " This is 
the smallest of my grenadiers. Now make yourself thor- 
oughly happy in your native place." We left at eleven 
o'clock in the evening, and the Messrs. Tremeau were charmed 
with the cordial welcome of the prefect and the marshal ; 
our game-bags were well filled with hares. 

I spent my time in hunting. I went to see my father, who 
invited me to go on a hunting-party with him. I could not 
refuse. When we reached the rendezvous, he said to me, 
"Here is the trail of three deer which must have spent the 
night in this underwood ; they cannot be far off. Come, I 
will station you. Hold on to my dog, and at the end of a 
quarter of an hour, walk on right ahead of you. As soon as 
I fire let him loose." I started off, and about half way I 
heard two reports of a gun. I let the dog loose, and heard 
my father cry to me, " This way." I ran to him, and to my 
astonishment saw two deer upon the ground. " I have killed 
two of them, and would have killed the third if I had not 
been in such a hurry. Let us go to the farm. They will 
come to look for us ; but first each of us must have a hare. I 
know where to find them." In an hour's time the hares were 
in our game-bags. "That is enough," said I, "let us go 
back." 

I went around to all my friends and said good-by before 
going to Beauvoir to see Father Thibault, and get my young 
brother to take him with me to Paris. I let no one know 
when I was to leave except my comrade Allard, and I started 
off at two o'clock in the morning. 

When I reached Paris, I immediately placed my brother 
with a wine-merchant ; I returned to my barracks, where my 
comrades welcomed me heartily. I drew my whole pay and 
three months of my pension, as member of the Legion ; this 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 113 

gave me two hundred francs, and quite set me up. Being 
exempt from service for a month, by order of the captain, I 
was completely restored to health, and ready for the next 
campaign. 

It was said that preparations were being made for a descent 
upon England. Hammocks were made for the whole guard, 
with bedclothes for each. The camp of Boulogne was in great 
commotion, and we were pretty lively at Paris. But our turn 
came to take part in movements by land and sea, after grand 
reviews and drills in the plain of St. Denis, where we were 
obliged to be out in the rain all day long. The barrels of our 
guns became filled with water when we carried arms. The 
"great man'' never budged; the water ran doAvn his sides; 
he did not let us off even for half an hour. His hat drooped 
upon his shoulders, his generals looked discomforted: but he 
took no notice of any of it. At last he made us march past, 
and when we reached Courbevoie we were paddling about 
like ducks in the yard ; but we found wine there, and so we 
thought no more about it. The next day, the order was read 
that we should hold ourselves in readiness to march. " Make 
up your knapsacks," said our officers, "and say good-by to 
every one, for only the veterans will be left." 

The order came ; we were obliged to put all the bedding into 
the storehouse, and sleep on the straw, so as to be ready to 
leave for Boulogne. We camped at the port of Ambleteuse, 
where a splendid camp was formed ; General Oudinot was 
above us with twelve thousand grenadiers, who formed a part 
of the reserve force. And every day we drilled and drilled. 
We were divided into brigades for service by turns on sea. 
We were put very far out, in a line, with two hundred pin- 
naces. The whole of this little fleet, divided into sections, 
was commanded by a good admiral, who was on a fine frigate 
in the middle. 

Thus for twenty days we worked the pieces, and were both 
gunners and sailors. The sailors, gunners, and soldiers all 
moved as one man ; there was perfect harmony on board the 
fleet. At night there was the cry of " All's well ! " and the 
last man answered, "All's well, ay, ay!" In the morning. 



114 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

tlie speaking trumpets asked the news of the night. " What 
is the news on board your ship ? " — " Two grenadiers threw 
themselves into the water." — " Were they drowned ? " — " Yes," 
was the answer, '' yes, my commander." — " All right." He 
said " all right " merely to indicate that he had understood. 

Once I was put on a sloop of war with ten heavy pieces of 
cannon, a hundred grenadiers, and a captain covered with 
wounds. I was right-hand man to one of the guns, for it was 
necessary to do something of everything ; and one half of us 
remained on deck all night. When my turn came to go down 
to rest in my hammock, I said, " Come on, old man, here you 
go to your hammock ; now you can rest." The head steward's 
mate heard me. " Where is this old soldier ? " — " It is I," 
said I. — " Where is your hammock ? I want to put you in a 
good place." Then he hung my hammock near the biscuit 
chests, and raised a plank. " Eat some biscuits, and to-morrow 
I will give you a gill." This was a small measure for brandy. 
We ate out of wooden bowls, with wooden spoons, beans which 
dated from the creation of the world. All the rations for each 
mess were put up in bundles ; we had fresh meat and sole. 

While I was at the camp at Ambleteuse, I received a visit 
from my old bedfellow, from the company to which I had 
first been admitted as a member of the guard. I have already 
said that he was the tallest of all the grenadiers ; he was, 
moreover, a jolly fellow, good-natured and full of fun, and 
somewhat of a joker. I cannot remember his name, I only 
remember that he was the son of an innkeeper in the neighbor- 
hood of Meudon. He had left the guard in consequence of a 
singular adventure. One day we were on duty at the Tuileries ; 
he was stationed at the door opening into the Consul's own 
chamber. When the Consul came at night to go to bed, he 
stopped, dumfounded. There was more than sufficient cause 
for his astonishment. Imagine a man six feet four inches 
tall, wearing a bear-skin cap eighteen inches high and a plume 
at least a foot higher than the cap. He called me his dwarf, 
and when he held out his arm horizontally, I could walk under 
without touching it. The First Consul was still shorter than 
I, and I think he was obliged to raise his head higher than 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 



115 



usual to see my comrade's face. After examining him a 
moment, he saw that, moreover, he was perfectly formed. 
"Would you like to be a drum-m.ajor ? '- said he to the man. 
— " Yes, Consul." — " Very well, go send your officer to me." 

At these words the grenadier put down his gun and rushed 
off, then he stopped and came back to get it again, saying that 
a good soldier should never leave his gun. " Never mind," 
said the First Consul, "I will watch it, and wait for you." 
A minute after, my comrade arrived at our post. The 
officer, surprised at seeing him, 
asked roughly what had happened. 
"Well, by my soul," replied he 
with his bantering air, "I had 
stood guard long enough. I have 
left some one on duty in my 
place." — " Whom, then ? " cried 
the officer. — " The little corporal, 
to be sure." — " Come, none of this 
ill-timed joking." — "I am not jok- 
ing ; he ought to take his turn 
mounting guard ; besides, he is ask- 
ing for you ; come to him, he sent 
me for you." 

The officer's astonishment gave 
pla,ce to terror, for Bonaparte ^r^ 
rarely sent for the officers to come 

to him except to give them a ^n^^n-^t^ 

scolding. This one of ours went out discomforted, following 
his new guide. They found the First Consul walking up and 
down the vestibule, beside the gun. "Sir," said he to the 
officer, "does this soldier bear a good character?" — "Yes, 
general." — " Then I appoint him drum-major in my cousin's 
regiment. I will pay him three francs a day from my private 
purse, and the regiment will give him as much more. Give 
orders to have him relieved from duty, and let him start off 
to-morrow." 

No sooner said than done. My comrade immediately 
entered upon his new duties, and when he came to see us at 




116 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

Ambleteuse, he had on a prodigiously fine uniform, all covered 
with gold lace, as handsome as that of the drum-major of the 
guard. He got permission for me to leave the camp, took me 
to Boulogne and treated me to a dinner. 

That evening I left him to return to Ambleteuse. I was 
alone ; as I was going along I met two grenadiers of the line, 
who wanted to arrest me. At that time the soldiers of the 
guard were exposed to frequent attacks. There was in the 
camp of Boulogne what was called the " company of the 
moon," which was composed of brigands and jealous fellows 
who took advantage of the night hours to plunder those of us 
whom they found alone, steal their watches and silver buckles, 
and throw them into the sea. It was found necessary to for- 
bid our returning to the camp at night unless there were sev- 
eral in a party. I got out of my difficulty by dint of audacity. 
I had my sabre and my seven years in the fencing-school. I 
drew sabre, and defied my assailants. They thought it prudent 
to allow me to pass on ; but if I had shown any signs of weak- 
ness I should have been lost, and my drum-major's dinner 
would have cost me very dear. 

One day Messrs. the Englishmen came in a large squad- 
ron to make us a visit. A vessel of seventy-four was insolent 
enough to come near the shore. She brought her broadside 
to bear, and sent a volley of balls into our camp. We had 
some big mortars on the height; a sergeant of grenadiers 
asked permission to fire on this ship, saying that he would 
guarantee to send her a-leak the first or second fire. " Go 
to work then. What is your name ? " said the Consul. — 
"Despienne." — " Give me your address." 

The first bomb passed over it. "You have missed your 
aim," said our little corporal. — " All right," said the ser- 
geant. " Watch this one." He took aim, and sent a bomb 
into the middle of the ship. Then there was a cry of joy. " I 
will make you lieutenant in my artillery," said he to Despienne. 
Then the English fired blank cartridges calling for aid, for their 
ship Avas on fire. They leaped into our boats as well as into 
their own. Our little flotilla pursued their big ships. It was 
a sight to see our little pugs after their big house-dogs. The 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 117 

English tried to return to the charge, but they were roughly 
received. We were in good condition. Our little boats made 
havoc of them. Every one of our shots struck, and their 
broadsides passed over our pinnaces. We were ordered to 
return to port so as to make a general movement all along the 
line. Never had there been seen such a sight as a hundred 
and fifty thousand men firing by battalions ; the whole shore 
shook. 

All the preparations were made for the descent, and one 
Thursday evening we set sail for the coasts of England, 
expecting to reach there on Friday. But at ten o'clock in the 
evening we were made to land with our knapsacks on our 
backs, and start for the bridge of Briques where we were to 
leave our blankets. There were shouts of joy. In an hour 
the whole of the artillery was on the march for the town of 
Arras. Never was there such a terrible march. We had not 
a moment for sleep, marching by platoon all day and all 
night, and at last holding on to each other to prevent falling. 
Those who fell could not be wakened. Some fell into the 
ditches. Blows with the flat of the sabre had no effect upon 
them. The music played, drums beat a charge ; nothing got 
the better of sleep. The nights were terrible. I was on the 
right of a section. About midnight I fell down on the right 
on the declivity of the road. I turned over on my side, and 
went rolling down, never stopping till I reached an open field. 
I did not let go my gun, but I rolled into the other world. My 
brave captain sent some one down to look after me. I was 
all broken up. They took my knapsack and my gun. I was 
now thoroughly awake. 

When we reached the heights of Saverne, the sleepers 
had to be put into carriages. At last we arrived at Strassburg, 
where we found the Emperor, who reviewed us the next day 
and distributed crosses. Two nights' rest put us in good con- 
dition. We crossed the Ehine and marched by long stages 
upon Augsburg, and thence on to Ulm, where we found a 
considerable army which we had to drive beyond a rapid 
river, before taking possession of a convent on an impreg- 
nable height. 



118 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



Marshal Xey, standing in the Avater up to his horse's belly, 
had the bridge repaired in spite of the grape-shot. The sap- 
pers were cut down, and still this intrepid ISTey did not budge. 
As soon as the first truss was placed, the grenadiers and light- 
horsemen crossed over to support the sappers, and the marshal 
came galloping up to Prince Murat, took him by the hand 
and said, " Prince, the bridge is finished. I need your sup- 
port." — "I will start at once," said he, '-'with my division of 
dragoons." 

Off they went at a gallop. The weather was so terrible 
that the bridge was flooded ; we never saw it again. We 

were stationed near tliis 
river in a meadow ; the 
water rose rapidly, it 
was soon up to our 
knees. The guard had 
to paddle about like 
ducks. Every one be- 
gan to laugh and walk 
gayly through the water. 
I had my pot in my 
knapsack ; it was not 
upside down, so it got 
full of water, and I 
poured it over my com- 
rades' legs. The barrels of our guns were full also. We 
could not change our position ; the whole of the marshal's 
corps were waiting for the water to fall so they could 
cross ; the soldiers were in the mud ; we were in the best 
place. At last the waters subsided. We could see the 
planks of the bridge. The troops pulled themselves out of 
the mud and washed their legs as they were crossing the 
bridge. Our ducks in their turn came up out of the meadow, 
and the columns arrived at the foot of that tremendous 
mountain, defended by very considerable forces. But noth- 
ing could resist Marshal Ney. On reaching the village of 
Elchingen, he attacked it, one house after another, and there 
were gardens surrounded by walls, over which we had to 




FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 119 

climb. This extraordinary village was taken with the bayo- 
net, and our columns reached the convent which overlooked 
the town. 

The Emperor then marched us off at quickstep to complete 
the overthrow of General Mack. The Austrians fought with 
determination. Behind this village were some scantily 
wooded fields, where we could manceuvre, and the chain of 
mountains extended from the convent to the front of Ulm. 
We did not leave the enemy at peace for a moment. Murat 
covered himself with glory by his splendid charges, and E"ey 
did not stop till he was in front of Ulm. The Emperor sur- 
rounded the town on all sides, and gave us at last time to 
dry ourselves. As ill-luck would have it, a beautiful house 
belonging to one of the citizens took fire. It was impossible 
to save it. " You shall pay for it," said the Emperor angrily. 
" I will give six hundred francs and you shall give a day's 
pay. Let that sum be immediately paid over to the owner of 
the house." Our officers made wry faces at this, but were 
obliged to submit, and the guard owns a house in that town. 
The proprietor did a good day's work, for he received a con- 
siderable sum. 

The Emperor summoned General Mack to surrender, which 
he did on the 19th of October. Orders were given to march 
next morning at five o'clock ; the whole guard went to the 
foot of the Michelberg, in front of Ulm. The Emperor sta- 
tioned himself on the top of this height and had a good fire 
made ; it was there that he burned his gray cloak. He was 
surrounded by the whole of his guard, and fifty pieces of 
cannon were turned upon the town. I was standing guard on 
the top of the eminence near the Emperor who was talking 
to Count Hulin, general of the foot grenadiers. Suddenly we 
saw an endless column file out of the town of Ulm, and march 
np in front of the Emperor in a plain at the foot of the 
mountain. All the soldiers had hung their cartridge-boxes on 
their knapsacks ready to take them off when they reached the 
place appointed to disarm ; they threw their arms and car- 
tridge-boxes in a pile as they passed. General Mack came at 
their head to surrender his sword to the Emperor. This the 



120 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGN ET. 

Emperor refused to accept (all the officers and generals 
retained their swords and knapsacks), and he talked a long 
time with the superior officers. 

This evacuation lasted four or five hours (there were 
twenty-seven thousand of them), and the city was full of sick 
and wounded. We made our entrance into Ulm amid the 
shouts of the whole populace ; the officers were sent off to 
their own country on parole not to take up arms against 
France, and the Emperor made a proclamation to us. The 
next day after the surrender of Ulm, Napoleon set out for 
Augsburg with the whole of his guard ; they made forced 
marches so as to reach Vienna. The soldiers were required 
to march eighteen or twenty leagues a day. They used to 
say : " Our Emperor makes war not with our arms but with 
our legs." 

When the Emperor learned that Prince Ferdinand had 
escaped from Ulm with his cavalry, he sent Prince Murat 
with Oudinot's grenadiers in pursuit of them. We came up 
with them ten leagues down the road ; they had only wagons, 
cannons, caissons, and cavalry ; they had carried off half of 
their arms with four thousand horses ; the roads were filled 
with prisoners. 

We started at midnight to join the advance-guard, and were 
obliged to pass by the troops who were already marching along 
the sides of the road. We had to take the middle, in the mud, 
and so pass columns two leagues long. Our grenadiers took 
strides a fathom long, and passed two soldiers at each step ; 
as for me, with my short legs, I trotted along, to keep up 
with my comrades. The Emperor slept in his carriage, and 
when he stoj)ped we had to mount guard, and the army corps 
passed on. 

When the troops had gone on fifteen leagues, the Emperor 
Avould start again ; we had to put our knapsacks on our backs, 
and swallow as we went along, all in the darkness. We could 
see neither town nor village. Fortunately the Russians ex- 
pected us. Oudinot's grenadiers, with Marshal Lannes and 
Murat, made their acquaintance ; this gave us time to reach 
Lintz, a town a little to the left of the road to Vienna. This 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 121 

city has, at its back, some high mountains, at the foot of which 
flows the Danube, among the rocks ; it is so shut in that it 
has cut its way through the rocks. The torrent makes one 
tremble. We stayed there two days ; certain princes sent 
from Vienna arrived, and then an aide-de-camp of Marshal 
Lannes, announcing that the Russians were defeated. The 
next day, the Emperor started off at a gallop ; he was sullen. 
'' All does not go well," said our chiefs ; " he is angry." 

He gave orders to start at once for St. Polten. Just 
before reaching there, to the left, there are mountains which 
are covered with trees to a considerable height ; here an army 
corps was camped. Thence we marched to Schoenbrunn, the 
residence of the Emperor of Austria. This palace is magnifi- 
cent, having forests surrounded by walls and filled with game. 
We remained here a few days to rest ; carriages came out 
from Vienna. Overtures were made to Napoleon, to induce 
him to spare the town. The army corps came in from all 
directions ; that of Marshal Mortier had suffered a great deal, 
and was held in reserve for refreshment. The Emperor lost 
no time ; he gave orders that the guard should appear in dress 
uniform, and rode at its head through that great city, amid the 
acclamations of a populace full of joy at the sight of such a 
splendid corps. We passed through without stopping, and 
came to the bridges, a little distance from the faubourgs, in a 
woody place, where we were somewhat concealed. The great 
wooden bridge was superb ; we said to each other, " How is 
it that these Austrians have allowed us to pass over on this 
bridge and have not blown it up ? " Our officers told us that 
this was managed by a stratagem of Prince Murat, Marshal 
Lannes, and the officers of the engineers. 

We slept in villages completely devastated by a terrible 
season of snow. The Emperor went in front ; he visited the 
outposts, and overlooked the army corps, and then went on to 
Brunn, in Moravia, where he established his headquarters. 
We could not catch up with him ; this was one of our most 
terrible marches, we had to go forty leagues to rejoin him. 
We arrived there on the third day, utterly broken down with 
fatigue. This city was beautiful, and here we had time to 



122 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

rest. We were near Austerlitz. The Emperor went out every- 
day to make reconnoissances along the line, and returned satis- 
fied. He seemed joyous; his pinches of snuff took effect (this 
was always a proof of his contentment), and with his hands 
behind his back he went about talking to every one. 

We received orders to go forward, near the Pratzen mount- 
ains. In front of us there was a river to cross, but it was so 
frozen that it presented no obstacle. We camped to the left 
of the road, over the Pratzen mountains, with Oudinot's grena- 
diers on the right and the cavalry behind us. 

On the first of December, at two o'clock, Napoleon came 
with his marshals to visit our line. We were eating some 
quince marmalade, of which we had found salt-boxes full in 
the village, and had made tarts. The Emperor laughed. 
" Ah ! " said he, " I see you are eating preserves, don't get up. 
You must put new flints in your guns ; to-morrow morning you 
will need them. Be ready." 

The horse grenadiers were carrying off a dozen big pigs ; 
they passed along in front of us. We charged them with our 
sabres and took all their pigs. The Emperor laughed. He 
divided them ; six for us and six for the horse-grenadiers. 
The generals took a pint of good blood, and we had some 
good broiled ham. 

That evening the Emperor came out of his tent, and mount- 
ing his horse, started off with his escort to visit the outposts. 
It was twilight, and the horse-grenadiers carried four lighted 
torches. This was the signal for a charming sight ; the whole 
guard took up handfuls of straw from their barracks and set 
it on fire. Holding a bunch of it in each hand, the men lighted 
it one from other, and all cried ont, " Vvve V Empereur ! " as 
they leaped into the air. The whole array corps took it up, 
and I am sure that two hundred thousand torches were lighted. 
The music played and the drums beat to arms. The Russians, 
from their heights, more than a hundred feet above us, could 
see seven army corps, and seven lines of fire in front of them. 

The next morning early, all the musicians were ordered to 
be at their posts, on pain of severe punishment. It was then 
the 2d of December. The Emperor started out very early in 




"There were twenty-five thousand of us jolly fellows with our bear-skin 
caps." — Page 123. 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 123 

the morning to visit the outposts and see the position of the 
Russian army : he returned and took a position on a plateau, 
above where he had passed the night. He placed us, with 
Oudinot's grenadiers, in line of battle behind him. All his 
marshals were v/ith him ; he sent them to their several posts. 
The army ascended this eminence, in order to descend to the 
country below, cross a river and come to the Pratzen mount- 
ain, where the Russians were waiting for us as quietly as 
possible. When the columns had passed by, the Emperor 
ordered us to follow them up. There were twenty-five thou- 
sand of us jolly fellows with our bear-skin caps. 

Our battalions mounted the hill carrying arms, and when 
within reach, saluted the first line with fire by battalions, and 
then crossed bayonets with the first line of the Russians, beat- 
ing a charge. Contrary to custom, the Emperor had ordered 
that the musicians should remain at their post in the centre 
of each battalion. Our corps of musicians was full, with 
its chief, an old trooper of at least sixty years, at its head. 
They played a song we all kncAv well. 

On va leur percer le flanc, 
Kan, ran, ran, rantanplan, tirelire, 
Rantanplan tirelire en plan. 

On va leur percer le flanc, ' 

Que nous allons rire ! 

Kan, tan, plan, tirelire. 

Que nous allons rire ! 

While this air was played, the drums, under the direction 
of M. Senot, their major, an accomplished man, beat a charge 
loud enough to break their drumheads in. The drums and 
music mingled together. It was enough to make a paralytic 
move forward ! 

When we reached the summit of the plateau we were only 
separated from the enemy by the remnant of the corps, who 
had been fighting in front of us since morning. Our right 
wing suffered very much. We saw that they could not ascend 
that steep mountain. The whole of the guard of the Russian 
Emperor was massed on this height. But we were strongly 
supported on the right. Their cavalry charged upon a bat- 



124 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

talion of the 4th, and strewed the field with their dead bodies. 
The Emperor perceived this, and ordered General Eapp to 
charge. Rapp dashed forward with his horsemen and the 
Mamelukes, delivered the battalion, but was driven back by the 
Eussian guard. The Emperor ordered us to halt, and sent 
forward first the Mamelukes and light-horsemen. These Mame- 
lukes were marvellous riders ; they could do anything they chose 
on horseback. With their curved sabres, they woiild take a 
man's head off with one blow, and with their sharp stirrups 
they could cut the loins of a soldier. One of them came three 
different times up to the Emperor bringing a Russian standard. 
The third time, the Emperor wished to stop him, but he dashed 
in again, and returned no more. He rested on the field of 
battle. 

The light-horsemen were no less effective than the Mame- 
lukes, but they had to contend with a force too strong for 
them. The Eussian imperial guard was composed of gigantic 
men who fought with desperation. Our cavalry was at last 
driven back. Then the Emperor let loose his " black horses," 
that is, his horse grenadiers, commanded by General Bessieres. 
They passed by us like a streak of lightning, and fell upon 
the enemy. For a quarter of an hour there was a desperate 
struggle, and that quarter of an hour seemed to us an age. 
We could see nothing through the smoke and dust. We 
feared we should see our comrades sabred in their turn. We 
were advancing slowly behind them, and if they had been 
defeated it would have been our turn. 

There was a confusion for several minutes ; everything went 
pell-mell, and no one knew which had the upper hand ; but 
our grenadiers came oif conquerors, and returned to their 
position behind the Emperor. General Eapp came back 
covered with blood, bringing a prince with him. 

We had been sent forward at a quick step to assist in this 
struggle ; the Eussian infantry was behind this mass, and we 
thought that our turn had come, but they beat a retreat into 
the valley of the ponds. Not being able to pass on the cause- 
way, which was blocked up, they were obliged to cross over 
the pond to the left, in front of us ; and the Emperor, perceiv- 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 125 

ing their embarrassment, sent down liis artillery and the 2d 
regiment of grenadiers. Our gunners manned the batteries, 
and balls and shells rained on the ice, which yielded beneath 
this mass of Russians. All the troops clapped their hands, 
and our Napoleon wreaked vengeance on his snuff-box ; it was 
a total rout. 

In the midst of these solemn circumstances we found a 
chance to laugh like children. A hare, frightened almost to 
death, was trying to escape, and came right up to us. My 
captain, Renard (Fox), seeing it, rushed forward to sabre it, 
but the hare made a turn. My captain pursued it, and the 
poor animal had barely time to run, as a rabbit should, into 
his hole. We who were watching this chase, cried out as 
loudly as we could, "The fox will not catch the hare, the fox will 
not catch the hare." And sure enough he could not catch it ; 
so we all laughed at him, and we laughed so much the louder, 
because the captain was the best man in the world, esteemed 
and loved by all his soldiers. The day ended in following up 
and capturing cannons, wagons, and prisoners. That night we 
slept on the fine position which the Russian guard had occupied 
in the morning, and the Emperor occupied himself in seeing 
that the wounded were taken up. There were two leagues of 
battlefield to be gone over in search of them, and each corps 
furnished men for this sad service. 

That evening we went into the village on the ojoposite side 
of the mountain, facing the ponds, to get wood and straw. We 
were obliged to descend rapidly and could not see where we 
were going. But our marauders found some beehives, and in 
order to take some honey, they set fire to an immense shed. 
The flames gave sufficient light to enable us to carry off all 
that Ave needed most to spend a bitterly cold night, and to 
show us the way back up the winding pathway. Finding no 
provisions, I seized upon a big pine cask. I took a feather 
bed, punched it into the cask and got one of my comrades to 
put it on my back. Then I mounted the hill ; the miserable 
cask rolled about on my back, but I had the courage to reach 
my bivouac. I put down my burden, and my captain, Renard, 
came up at once to beg me to give him a place in my cask. I 



126 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

immediately went back to the village and brought a load of 
straw, which I put into my cask ajid put my feather bed in on 
top of it. We got in head foremost, and stuck our feet out 
before the fire. No one ever jDassed a more comfortable night. 
My captain said, "I shall remember you all my life." 

The next day we set out for Austerlitz, a poor little thatched 
village, with an old castle ; but we found six hundred sheep in 
the stalls of the manor, and rations of them were distributed 
to the guard. The Emperor of Austria came to see Napoleon. 
After the two emperors had come to an understanding, we 




■Ala.^.^^ 



started for Vienna, marching by moderate stages, and went to 
Schoenbrunn, where we were lodged in that beautiful palace 
until the settlement of affairs. The guard received orders to 
return to France by short stages and by way of the halting 
places. How glad we were ! And to think we should be well 
fed ! But the army did not return ; it was necessary that the 
peace should be signed and that our troops should have time 
to be re-enforced. The halting places were twenty leagues 
apart ; it was so comfortable to find our food ready for us 
when we arrived. We were kindly received in Bavaria, and 
we recrossed the Rhine transported with joy at seeing our 
country once more. 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 127 

We were triumphantly received by the good people of 
Strassburg. I went straight to my lodgings, where I had left 
all ray belongings as I passed through. I found everything 
as I had left it. Those good people felt nie and said, "So 
you are not wounded?" Their young daughter said, "We 
have prayed for you ; all your linen is clean and white, and 
your silver buckles are shining bright. I made the goldsmith 
polish them." — " Thanks, my dear young lady. I bring you a 
beautiful shawl from Vienna, which I beg you to accept." 
She blushed at this in presence of her mother, and the father 
and mother were both delighted. I said to them, " If I had 
died, my things would have gone to your daughter." The 
father took me by the hand. " Come, let us go to the cafe," 
said he ; " the guard is here for the day ; you will have time 
to rest." 

I had gotten this beautiful shawl from an imperial castle, 
where I had been stationed as safe-guard. The lady of the 
castle^ asked me if I was a married man. I answered, "Yes, 
madame." — " Then I will make you a present for your wife, 
in return for your treatment of my husband." 

We now v/ent on to the beautiful city of ISTancy, and from 
Nancy to Epernay. The first battalion was detached at the 
town of Ay, about a league from Epernay ; it is here that they 
make the sparkling wine. This city has grown very rich upon 
its trade in these wines ; for fifteen years no troops had 
been quartered there. We could not possibly have been more 
kindly received than we were ; they would not allow the 
guard to pay for anything, they defrayed every expense. 
" You shall not drink the champagne now," said they, " but 
this evening we will try it. Eest assured, you shall have 
plenty of it." That evening, after dinner, the champagne was 
brought out, and the hosts were obliged to take their soldiers 
up in their arms and carry them to bed; they had no use of 
their legs. 

The next day all the heads of households escorted us out, 
taking with them servants carrying baskets of wine, and our 

1 Probably the wife of some ofScial. Coignet's reply shows that he scented the 
possibility of a present. 



128 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET, 

officers were obliged to beg these kind men to go away. 
Our drunkards fell about in the ditches ; the soldiers were 
demoralized. We had to rest three hours in the plain, two 
leagues from Epernay, so as to give time for the men to get 
together. Our hosts of Ay were obliged to pick up the strag- 
glers and take them back. We were not all reunited till the 
next day ; but no one was punished. 

We reached Meaux, in Brie, where Ave were kindly received. 
I was alone; I went to present my billet in Rue Basse, 
which leads to Paris. I got some one to read my billet for 
me, as I could not read myself. A big man said to me, " This 
lady is rich, but she will send you to an inn. Here, go to this 
locksmith's shop." I went to the locksmith and showed him 
my billet. " My good man," said he, " my landlady is going 
to send you to an inn." — •' Very well, I hope to stay with this 
lady. Come to see me in an hour." — "But you will not be 
there." — "You will see that I shall, without any fuss." I 
went up to the first fioor. " Good-morning, madame, here is 
your billet." — "But, sir, I do not take lodgers." — "I know 
it, madame ; but I am very tired, I must rest a little while. If 
madame will have the goodness to go and get me a bottle of 
wine, there are fifteen sous. After that I will go away." 

She took my fifteen sous and went for the bottle of wine. 
As soon as she went out, I took off my clothes and bound my 
handkerchief around my head ; I rolled myself up in her bed 
and began to tremble as hard as I could. Presently madame 
came back; she saw me in her bed and began to scream. 
Then she went for her tenants and consulted with them ; they 
told her she must make me some Avarm Avine Avith plenty of 
sugar in it, put on the pot to make me a good broth, and cover 
me up Avell, for I had a terrible chill. These wicked creatures 
enjoyed themselves at the expense of the miserly woman. 
That night they came up to see me, and the lady spent the 
night on her lounge. The next day madame returned my 
fifteen sous, and I Avas escorted to other quarters. The 
neighbors were delighted with the joke I had played. 

We went to Claye, and from Claye to the Porte St. Denis, 
where the people of Paris were Avaiting for us ; they had 



FOURTH NOTE-BOOK. 



129 



made us a triumphal arch. We found, in the Champs-Elysees, 
tents prepared, with tables served with cold meats and sealed 
wines. But as ill-luck would have it, the rain fell in such 
torrents that the plates were filled with water. We could not 
eat, but we drew the corks from the bottles and drank stand- 
ing. It was a pitiful sight to see us ; we were as wet as ducks. 

Three battalions of us set out for Courbevoie; one remained 
on duty. The Emperor gave us some rest, and we received 
new uniforms. We had splendid reviews ; the good city of 
Paris gave us a magnificent dinner under the galleries of the 
Place Royale ; nothing was wanting ; and that night we went 
free to a comedy at the Porte St. Martin. There was a repre- 
sentation of the Passage of Mount St. Bernard, and we could 
see the good monks descending the mountain with their big 
dogs following them. As I looked at those good Capuchins 
and their dogs, I could almost believe that I was dragging my 
cannon along. I clapped my hands and stamped my feet. 
My comrades said to me, " Are you crazy ? " I answered, 
" You see, I saw them on Mount St. Bernard, those splendid 
dogs ; and those are the very same monks." 

The roll was not called till two o'clock in the morning; 
no one was punished, and all oixr little shortcomings were 
pardoned. 



in m\. 'i,v^ ^ [^i^f-'^ 




•*'}'{ m 




FIFTH J^OTE-BOOK. 



PRUSSIAN" AND POLISH CAMPAIGNS. CONFERENCE AT TILSIT. 

1 AM MADE CORPORAL. SPANISH AND AUSTRIAN CAM- 
PAIGNS. 1 AM APPOINTED SERGEANT. 

The allied princes came to pay their court to Napoleon, and 
he entertained them with splendid reviews. We mounted 
guard at the princes' hotels, who all gave us something, more 
or less. Among the great officials M. Cambaceres was the 
least generous; he never gave more than a half-bottle to the 
sentinel who was stationed at his door. Consequently we 
made a wry face when it was our turn to go to his house. 

We were overwhelmed with duty ; eight hours of guard and 
two hours of patrol duty, that made ten hours each night, and 
picket duty at the barracks for twenty-four hours, Avithout 
taking off our clothes. We were obliged to be out at the first 
sound of the roll-call to answer, " Here." Each day the guard 
going on duty had twenty-four hours' picket duty. Then there 
were grand drills which kept us all day long in the plain of 
the Sablons and at the Tuileries. 

The Emperor ordered up a great deal of artillery, wagons 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 131 

and caissons ; he had them opened, so as to assure himself 
that nothing was wanting. He got up on the wheels to see 
that nothing had been forgotten, especially the medicine-chest, 
the shovels, and pickaxes. He had a strict inspection. M. 
Larrey was responsible for the medicine-chest, and the engi- 
neering officers for the shovels and pickaxes. He dealt 
severely with them if all was not as it should be. He was at 
the same time the kindest and the severest man ; we all feared 
him and we all loved him. 

An order was given to examine the condition of our linen 
and shoes, and to inspect our arms for another campaign. 
The Emperor reviewed us, and we were ordered to hold our- 
selves in readiness to march. Our officers told us that we 
were to start for a conference, at which the Emperor of 
Eussia and the King of Prussia were to be present. But 
when we reached the frontiers of Prussia, an order was read 
to us informing us that war had been declared against Prussia 
and Russia. 

Very early in the year 1806 we set out for Wiirzburg, where 
the Emperor was awaiting us. This is a beautiful city, and 
there is a magnificent castle ; the princes gave I^apoleon a 
grand reception. From there the army corps were sent on to 
Jena, by forced marches ; we reached that city the 13th of 
October, at ten o'clock in the evening. We passed through 
the town without being able to see anything of it; there was 
not a light anywhere ; the inhabitants had all deserted it. 
Absolute silence reigned. On the other side of the city we 
found ourselves at the foot of a mountain as steep as the roof 
of a house ; this we had to climb, and immediately form bat- 
talions on the table-land. We were obliged to grope our way 
along the edge of the precipice ; not one of us could see the 
other. It was necessary to keep perfect silence, for the enemy 
was near us. We immediately formed a square, with the 
Emperor in the middle of the guard. Our artillery came to 
the foot of this terrible mountain, and not being able to pass 
over it, the road had to be enlarged and the rocks cut away. 
The Emperor was there, directing the engineers ; he did not 
leave till the road was finished, and the first piece of cannon, 



132 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

drawn by twelye horses, had passed on in front of him, in 
absolute silence. 

Pour pieces at a time were carried xip and immediately placed 
in battery in front of our line. Then the same horses went 
back to the foot of the mountain to be hitched to others. A 
good part of the night was employed in this terrible task, and 
the enemy did not perceive us. The Emperor placed himself 
in the middle of his square, and allowed them to kindle two 
or three fires for each company. There were a hundred and 
twenty of us in each company. Twenty from eacla company 
were sent off in search of provisions. We did not have far to 
go, for from the eminence we could throw a stone into the 
village. All the houses were deserted, the Avretched inhabit- 
ants had abandoned their homes. We found everything we 
needed, especially wine and sugar. We had our officers along 
to keep order, and in three-quarters of an hour we were on 
our way back u.p the mountain, loaded with wine, sugar, cop- 
per boilers, and all sorts of provisions. We carried torches to 
give us light in the cellars, and we found a great deal of sealed 
wine in the large hotels. 

Wood was brought and fires lighted, and wine and sugar 
put into the boilers. We drank to the health of the King of 
Prussia all night long, and all the sealed wine was divided 
among us. There was the greatest quantity of it ; each grena- 
dier had three bottles, two in his bear-skin cap, and one in his 
pocket. All night long we had warm wine ; we carried some to 
our brave gunners, who were half dead with fatigue, and they 
were very thankful for it. Their officers were invited to come 
and drinlv the warm wine with ours ; our mustaches were 
thoroughly wetted, but Ave were forbidden to make any noise. 
Imagine what a punishment it was not to be able to speak or 
sing ! Every one of us had something witty ready to say. 

Seeing us all so happy, put the Emperor in good spirits. 
He mounted his horse before day and went on his rounds. 
The darkness was so profound that he was obliged to have a 
light in order to see his way, and the Prussians, seeing this 
light moving along their lines, fired on Napoleon. But he 
went on his way, and returned to his headquarters to order 
the men to arms. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 133 

Day had scarcely broken when the Prussians greeted us 
(October the 14th) with cannon shots, which passed over our 
heads. An old Egyptian soldier said, "The Prussians have 
bad colds, hear them cough. We must take them some sweet- 
ened wine." The whole army now moved forward without 
being able to see one step ahead of them. We were obliged 
to feel our way like blind men, constantly falling up against 
each other. At the sound of the movement which was going 
on in front of us, it was considered necessary to call a halt 
and commence the attack. Our braV'e Lannes opened on our 
left; this was the signal for the whole line, and we could 
only see each other by the light of our firing. The Emperor 
ordered us to advance rapidly on their centre. He was 
obliged to order us first to moderate our pace and finally to 
halt. Their line had been pierced, as was that of the Russians 
at Austerlitz. The accursed fog was a great drawback to us, 
but our columns continued to advance, and we had room to 
look around. About ten o'clock the sun came out and lighted 
up the beautiful plateau. Then we could see in front of us. 
On our right we saw a handsome carriage drawn by white 
horses ; we were told that in it was the Queen of Prussia, 
who was trying to escape. Napoleon ordered us to halt for 
an hour, and we heard a terrible firing on our left. The 
Emperor immediately sent an officer to learn what was going 
on ; he seemed angry, and took snuff frequently as he stamped 
up and down in front of us. The officer returned and said, 
" Sire, it is Marshal Xey who is fighting desperately, with his 
grenadiers and his light-horsemen, against a body of cavalry." 
He immediately sent forward his cavalry, and the whole army 
advanced. Lannes and ISTey were victorious on the left ; the 
Emperor joined them and recovered his good humor. 

Prince Murat came up with his dragoons and his cuiras- 
siers ; his horses' tongues were hanging out of their mouths. 
They brought with them a whole division of Saxons, and it 
was pitiful to see them, for more than half of these unfortu- 
nate fellows were streaming with blood. The Emperor re- 
viewed them, and we gave them all our wine, particularly to 
the wounded, and also to our brave cuirassiers and dragoons. 



134 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

We had at least a thousand bottles of sealed wine still left, 
and we saved their lives. The Emperor gave them their 
choice, either to remain with us or to be prisoners, telling 
them that he was not at war with their sovereign. 

After winning this battle, the Emperor left us at Jena; he 
went on to see the corps of Davout and Bernadotte. On our 
right we could hear distant cannonading, and the Emperor 
sent an order for us to hold ourselves in readiness to march. 
We spent the night in that poor deserted town. The Emperor 
returned ; we gathered up our wounded and carried them on 
to Weimar, which is a lovely town. 

We had a hard light with a large body of cavalry, at the 
assault of Hassenhausen ; but Prince Murat gained the vic- 
tory over them. We marched upon Erfurt, without being 
able to catch up with the army corps of Davout and Berna- 
dotte, who carried off all the baggage wagons and cannons of 
the Prussians. We lost heavily. 

On the 25th we reached Potsdam ; we spent the 26th and 
27th at Charlottenburg, the splendid palace of the King of 
Prussia, which is opposite Berlin. The country here is cov- 
ered with woods up to the very entrance-gate to this beautiful 
city ; nothing can be more beautiful than it is. The gateway 
is surmounted by a triumphal arch, and the streets are straight 
as a line. From the Charlottenburg gate to the palace, there 
is a broad walk, with benches on each side for those who wish 
to look on. The Emperor made his entrance on the 28th, at 
the head of twenty thousand grenadiers and cuirassiers, and 
all our splendid foot and horse-guards. The uniform was as 
magnificent as at the Tuileries ; the Emperor moved proudly 
along in his plain dress, with his small hat and his one-sou 
cockade. His staff was in full uniform, and it was a curious 
sight to see the worst-dressed man the master of such a splen- 
did army. 

The people were gazing out of the windows as the Parisians 
did on the day we came back from Austerlitz. It was grand 
to see this great populace crowding the streets to see us, and 
following us wherever we went. 

We drew up in line of battle in front of the palace, which 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 135 

is isolated by beautiful squares in front and at the back of it, 
and a handsome square filled with trees, where the great 
Frederick stands on a pedestal with his little gaiters on. 

We were lodged in private houses and fed at the expense of 
the inhabitants, with orders to give us a bottle of wine every 
day. This was hard upon the citizens, for the wine costs three 
francs a bottle. Not being able to procure wine, they begged 
us to take instead, beer, in little jugs. At roll-call, all the 
grenadiers spoke about it to their officers, who told us not to 
force them to give us wine, as the beer was excellent. This 
was a great comfort to all the people in the town, and the 
beer in jugs was unsparingly bestowed. It would be impossible 
to find better beer Peace and good-will were universal ; we 
could not have been more comfortable ; all the citizens came 
with their servants to bring us our well-served meals. The 
discipline was strict ; Count Hulin was governor of Berlin, 
and the service was severe. 

The Emperor reviewed his guard in front of the palace ; 
he stood near some fine linden-trees, near the statue of 
Frederick the Great. Behind the statue are three rows of 
stones, five feet high, joined together by bars of iron. We 
were in line of battle in front of the palace ; the Emperor 
came up, ordered us to carry arms, and cross bayonets ; our 
colonel repeated the command. He ordered, " Wheel about." 
The colonel repeated it. Then, '•' Forward, double quick, 
march." We halted in front of the five-foot stones. The 
Emperor seeing us stop, said, " Why do you not march on ? " 
The colonel answered, " We cannot pass." — " What is your 
name?" — "Frederic." The Emperor said, in a severe tone, 
'■'Poor Frederic! Order them to 'Forward.' " And there we 
went, leaping over the stones and the bars of iron. It was a 
sight to see us go over. 

The corps of Marshal Davout was the first to enter Berlin ; 
and then marched on to the frontier of Poland. We learned, 
before leaving, that Magdeburg had surrendered. The Emper- 
or settled matters with the authorities at Berlin, and we set 
out to rejoin the corps, which was marching on Poland. When 
we reached Posen, we rested there some time. Our corps 



136 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

marched, without intermission to Warsaw. The Russians were 
good enough to give those two beautiful cities up to us ; but 
they were not so generous about provisions ; they ravaged the 
whole country, and carried off everything to the other side, 
leaving only what they could not take away. They even blew 
up all the bridges, and carried off all the boats. The Emperor 
showed, some ill-temper. Once before, at Posen, I saw him, 
when he was angry, jump on his horse so violently that he 
flew over to the other side, and. give his equerry a cut with 
his whip. 

We were ordered into position before reaching Warsaw. 
We saw the Russians on the opposite side of the river, on a 




height overlooking the road. Five hundred swimmers were 
detailed, and. made to swim across with their cartridge-boxes 
and guns on their heads ; they fell upon the Russians at mid- 
night, as they were sleeping beside their fires. We seized 
upon their position, and made ourselves master of the right 
shore of the river ; but we were still without boats. Marshal 
Ney, who had accomplished wonderful things at Thorn, sent 
us some boats to make bridges. The Emperor was in the 
highest spirits, and said, " That man is a lion." 

The Emperor entered Warsaw during the night. Oudinot's 
grenadiers and ourselves arrived, next day. The kind, people 
of this city came out to look at our splendid column of grena- 
diers. They made an effort to receive us kindly. The Rus- 
sians had carried off everything. We had to buy grain and 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 137 

beeves to feed the army, and the Jews made good contracts 
with Napoleon. Provisions came in to us from all sides, and 
biscuits were made for us. It must be said that the Jews 
saved the army as well as made their own fortunes. 

When the Emperor was in condition to recommence the 
campaign, and his troops had been supplied with provisions, 
he had splendid reviews. The last of them took place in the 
midst of the most intense cold. During one of these reviews, 
a handsome carriage drove up, and a small man got out, and 
presented himself to the Emperor, in front of the guard. He 
was a hundred and seventeen years old, and walked as if he 
were sixty. The Emperor offered him his arm : " Thank you, 
sire," said he. He was said to be the oldest man in Poland.^ 

The ice being considered in proper condition, a distribution 
of rations of biscuits for fourteen days was made to us. I 
bought a ham for twenty francs, and did not eat a pound of 
it ; nothing could be had for love or money. It was Decem- 
ber, the beginning of a most terrible winter, in a deserted 
country, covered with woods, and with roads heavy with sand. 
We found no inhabitants in the wretched villages ; the Eus- 
sians fell back before us, and we found their camps deserted. 
We had to march all night, and at midnight we came to a 
castle. Not knowing where we were, we put down our knap- 
sacks under some walnut-trees, in a camping-ground deserted 
by the Russians. As I put my knapsack on the ground, I felt 
a small pile of something. I felt about in the straw. My 
God, what joy ! there were two loaves of bread of about three 
pounds each. I knelt down, and opened my knapsack, took 
one of my loaves, and put it in. The other, I broke into pieces. 
It was so dark that no one saw me, " What are you doing ? " 
said Captain Renard. Taking hold of his hand, I put into it 
a piece of bread, saying, " Keep silence, watch my knapsack, 
and eat ; I am going for some wood." 

I started ofE with four of my messmates, and we found a 
piece of cannon mounted in front of the castle. We dis- 

1 We h.ive found confirmation of this singular fact. The good man was named 
Narogki, and he pretended to have been born in 1690. But liis great age was only a 
pretence in order to obtain a pension. 



138 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

mounted the piece, and carried off the wheels and the carriage. 
When we got back to our captain with tliese tremendous pieces 
of wood, we made a fire big enougli to last all night. What a 
good night we had ! My captain and I hid ourselves so we 
could eat our bread. I said to him, " I have another loaf in 
my knapsack ; you shall have your share to-morrow evening." 

The next day Ave started off again to the right, through the 
woods and the sands. The weather was terrible : snow, rain, 
and thaw. The sand gave way under our feet, and the water 
splashed up over the sinking sand. We sunk down up to our 
knees. We were obliged to take ropes, and tie our shoes 
around our ankles, and when we pulled our legs out of this 
soft sand, the ropes would break, and our shoes would stick in 
the wet mud. Sometimes we would have to take hold of one 
leg, and pull it out as you would a carrot, carrying it forward, 
and then go back for the other, take hold of it with both hands, 
and make it take a step forward also ; our guns, meantime, 
hanging in our shoulder-belts, so as to leave our hands free. 
And so Ave had to go on for two Avhole days. 

Discontent began to spring up among the old soldiers ; some 
of them committed suicide in their moments of great suffer- 
ing. We lost about sixty of them in the two days previous 
to our arrival at Pultusk, a miserable thatched village. The 
hut in which the Emperor had his quarters Avas not worth a 
thousand francs. Here we came to the end of our misery, for 
it was impossible to go any further. 

We camped in front of this poor little village, called Pul- 
tusk. In order to prepare for our bivouac, we Avent in search 
of some straw to put under our fpet. Not finding any, we 
took some sheaves of wheat, and used that to keep us off the 
ground ; so the barns Avere pillaged. I made seA^eral trijDS. I 
brought back a trough Avhich the horse-grenadiers had not 
been able to carry off ; they put it on my back, and I reached 
the camp, thus shaming my comrades, who were colossal crea- 
tures compared to me. But God had given me legs as fine as 
those of an Arab horse. I returned again to the village, and 
brought a small pot, two eggs, and some wood; but I Avas half 
dead Avith fatigue. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 139 

No man could give any idea of our wretched suffering. All 
our artillery was sunk in the mire ; the pieces dragged along 
the ground. The Emperor's carriage, with him inside, could 
not be drawn out. We were obliged to lead a horse up to the 
door of the carriage, so he could get over this terrible place, 
and go on to Pultusk. And here he saw the desolation among 
the ranks of his old soldiers, some of whom had blown their 
brains out. It was here that he gave us the name of " grum- 
blers," a name which clung to us, and which honors us to this 
day. 

But to return to my two eggs. I put them into my little 
pot, in front of the fire. Colonel Frederic, who commanded 
us, came towards my fire, for I, who had been bravest in the 
cold, had been the first to make a good fire. Seeing such a 
nice fire, he came to my bivouac, and looking at the little pot 
in front of it, he said, '' Is your little stew boiling nicely ? " — 
" Yes, colonel." ■■ — " All right, I will stay by your fire." 

I went for some sheaves of wheat, and gave him two to sit 
on. Then I took out my two eggs, and gave him one of them. 
As he took it, he gave me a napoleon, saying, " If you do not 
take these twenty francs, I will not eat your egg ; it is worth 
that to-day." I was obliged to take twenty francs for an 

The horse-grenadiers occupied the village of Pultusk ; they 
found an enormous hog, and chased it into our camp. As it 
was passing by our bivouac, I rushed upon this good game, 
sabre in hand. Colonel Frederic, who had a loud voice, 
shouted to me, "Cut his hams." I rushed forward, caught 
up with him, and cut his hams, and cheu passed my sabre 
across his throat. The colonel and his grenadiers came up, 
and it was decided that as I had captured him, a quarter and 
the two kidneys belonged to me. I at once went up to the 
Emperor's house to get some salt. I found my lieutenant on 
duty, and asked him for some salt and a pot for the colonel, 
adding that I had captured a big hog, which the horse-grena- 
diers were chasing. " It is the house hog," said he. " The 
Emperor was furious ; they have deprived him of his stew. 
Fortunately, however, his canteens have just arrived, so he is 



140 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

in a good humor again ; but his stomach was empty as well 
as ours." — "Lieutenanc, I will bring you a broiled ham in an 
hour." — "All right, my good fellow, go cook it quickly." 

When I got back, I found the colonel Avaiting for me. " Here 
is some salt and a big saucepan." — " We are saved," said he. 
— " But, colonel, it was the hog from the Emperor's quarters ; 
we have deprived him of his stew." — " Is it possible ? " — " It 
is, indeed." 

The grenadiers and chasseurs went off on a marauding party 




to look for provisions for the next day. They came back in 
the evening Avith some potatoes, which were distributed to us. 
When divided out to each mess, there were twenty potatoes 
for every eighteen men. It was pitiful. Only one potato for 
each man. The colonel and Captain Eenard were well warmed, 
and each ate a kidney. We divided everything with one 
another. The colonel took me aside, and asked me if I could 
read and write. I answered that I could not. " What a pity ! 
I would have made you a corporal." — " Thank you." 

The Emperor sent for Count Dorsenne, and said to him, 
" You are to set out with my foot-guard, and enter Warsaw. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 141 

Here is the chart. Do not follow the same road : you will 
lose my old grumblers. Make me a report of the missing. 
Here is your route to Warsaw." 

Next day we started, going through by-ways, from one 
forest to another. When we halted, about three miles from 
Warsaw, we were in a perfect state of starvation ; hollow- 
eyed, sunken-cheeked, and unshaved. We looked like dead 
men risen from the tomb. General Dorsenne formed a circle 
round him, and reproached us severely, saying that the 
Emperor was displeased not to see more courage under hard- 
ships which he was sharing with us. " He will treat you," 
he says, "as grumblers ought to be treated," We shouted, 
" Hurrah for the general ! " 

The inhabitants of Warsaw received us with open arms, 
January 1, 1807 : the people could not do too much for 
us, and the Emperor allowed us to rest in this beautiful city. 
But this short campaign of fourteen days had aged us ten 
years. 

After having stayed some time at Warsaw, we were sent 
forward among some miserable villages. The inhabitants 
had carried off all their provisions, and led their animals into 
the forests, a great way off from the villages. Like hungry 
wolves, driven from the forests by famine, twelve of our men, 
well armed, started out to scour the forests, a league from the 
village, through snow a foot deep. When we reached the 
forest, we spied the footsteps of a man ; we followed them, and 
came to a camp of peasants, on the other side of the mount- 
ain. All their animals were tied there, and pots were on the 
fire ; they were frightened, and dared not fire on us. They 
had horses, cows, and sheep. We untied them all, and took 
some flour and a very small quantity of bread. We returned 
to our village with two hundred and eight beasts, and a divis- 
ion of them was made : half for us and half for the peasants. 
We left them all their horses, except four, which we kept to 
ride from one village to the other ; and four peasants, whom 
we wished to serve us as guides. These were the conditions 
upon Avhich we divided our spoils, and the unfortunate peas- 
ants went off with their portion. We made some bread 



142 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

immediately ; it had been so long since we had eaten any, 
that as soon as it was out of the oven, my comrades ate 
enough to kill them. Two died; we could not save them. 
We found some potatoes, six feet down in the ground, under 
the brick paving of one of the rooms in our house ; this saved 
our lives. 

We had but little to thank the Poles for ; they had all run 
away. All their villages were deserted ; they would have 
allowed a soldier to die at their doors without giving him any 
aid. The Germans never left their houses ; they are the per- 
sonification of humanity. I have seen a postmaster killed in 
his house by a Frenchman, and yet his house turned into a 
hospital. The master was lying dead on his bed, and yet his 
wife and daughter were looking for linen to dress the wounds 
of our men. They said, " It is the will of Grod." This trait 
of character is sublime. 

In the early days of January, we received orders to hold 
ourselves in readiness to march. The Russians had made a 
movement upon Warsaw. What glad news for the starving 
soldiers ! Now we should cease to be hungry. General Dor- 
senne received orders to break up the encampment, and start 
on the 30th of January. The Emperor also started the same 
day, so as to keep ahead of us. We did not catch up with him 
till the 2d of February, when he immediately went on. We 
started again on the 3d, following him. We were told that we 
were marching upon Eylau, and that the Russians had gone 
to the city of Koenigsberg for the purpose of embarking ; but 
they were waiting for us in a position in front of Eylau, which 
cost us very dear. We carried the woods and the heights, and 
pursued them closely ; they took the road which led to Eylau, 
to the right over the hill-top, and there fought with despe- 
ration. They, however, finally lost their position. Prince 
Murat and Marshal Ney pursued them into Eylau, where they 
rushed pell-mell through the streets. The town was occupied 
by our troops, in spite of the efforts made to recapture it. 

On the 7th of February the Emperor ordered us to camp on 
an eminence in front of Eylau. This mountain was in the 
form of a sugar-loaf, and very steep ; it had been occupied a 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 



143 



day or two before by our troops, for we found a number of 
the dead bodies of the Russians scattered here and there over 
the snow ; and some dying ones, who made signs to us that 
they wished to be finished. We were obliged to clear away 
the snow so as to set up our tents. We dragged the dead 
bodies to the other side of the mountain, and carried the 
wounded to a house quite at the foot of it. Unfortunately 
night came on, and some of the soldiers were so cold that they 
took it into their heads to pull down the house to get wood 
to warm themselves. The poor wounded fellows were vic- 




tims of this deed of desperation. They perished under the 
rubbish. 

The Emperor ordered us to light his fire in the midst of our 
battalions, and asked that each mess should give him a log of 
wood and a potato. We brought him a score of potatoes, some 
wood, and some bundles of straw. We used for wood the rails 
which had formed the summer pens for the cattle. He seated 
himself in the midst of his "old grumblers," on a bundle of 
straw, his stick in his hand. We saw him turn over his 
potatoes, and divide them with his aides-de-camp. 

From our bivouac I could see the Emperor distinctly, and 
he saw all our movements. By the light of the pine logs I 



144 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

shaved those of my comrades who needed it most. They each 
sat down on the rump of a dead horse, which had been there 
long enough for the intense cold to freeze it as hard as a 
stone. I had in my knapsack a towel, which I passed around 
their necks, and I had also some soap, which I mixed with 
snow melted over the fire. I daubed it over them with my 
hand, and then performed the operation. Perched on the top 
of his bundles of straw, the Emperor watched this strange 
spectacle, and burst into peals of laughter. I shaved at least 
a score of them that night. 

Early in the morning, on the 8th of February, the Russians 
greeted us with volleys from their cannon. We sprang to 
our feet. The Emperor mounted, and marched us forward on 
the lake with our artillery and all the cavalry of his guard. 
The thunderbolt caught us on the frozen lake. There were 
twenty-two siege pieces brought from Koenigsberg firing upon 
us. The shells passed over the houses, and made great havoc 
in our ranks. There is no possible suffering greater than to 
expect to be killed without being allowed to defend one's self. 
Our quartermaster did a brave thing : a cannon-ball took off 
his leg ; he cut off a small part of flesh which remained, and, 
saying, "I have three pairs of boots at Courbevoie, I shall 
have enough to last me a long time," he took two guns for 
crutches, and went off unassisted to the field-hospital. 

Having lost heavily, the Emperor now brought us forward 
on the height, our left wing resting on the church. He was 
there himself near the church, watching the enemy. He was 
rash enough to go close up to the cemetery, where a fearful 
slaughter was kept up. This cemetery was the burial-place 
of a great number of French and Eussians. We gained the 
victory here. But to the right, in front of us, the 14th of the 
line was cut to pieces ; the Russians penetrated their square, 
and the carnage was terrible. The 43d of the line lost half 
its men. 

M. Senot, our drum-major, was behind us at the head of his 
drummers. Some one came to tell him that his son had been 
killed. He was a youth of about sixteen, and belonged really 
to another regiment ; but, as a favor, and out of respect for 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 145 

his father's position, he had been permitted to serve as a 
volunteer in the grenadiers of the guard. " So much the 
worse for him," cried M. Senot ; " I told him he was too 
young yet to follow me." And he went on with his duty 
with unshaken firmness. Fortunately, the report proved false ; 
the young man had disappeared in a file of soldiers, who were 
cut down by a cannon-ball, but he received no injury. I have 
seen him since, captain, adjutant-major in the guard. 

A bullet cut off the staff of our eagle while our sergeant- 
major was holding it, and made a hole through and through 
his coat. Fortunately, he was not wounded. We shouted, 
'' Forward ! Hurrah for the Emperor ! " As the peril was 
great, he decided to send forward the 2d regiment of grena- 
diers and the chasseurs, commanded by General Dorsenne. 
The cuirassiers had broken through the squares, and made 
terrible slaughter. Our grenadiers fell upon the Russian guard 
with their bayonets without firing a single gun, and at the 
same moment the Emperor charged them with two squadrons 
of horse grenadiers and two of chasseurs. They dashed for- 
ward with such rapidity that the grenadiers broke through all 
the Russian lines, and made the circuit of their whole army. 
They returned covered with blood, having lost some men who 
had been dismounted and taken prisoners. They were con- 
fined in the prison at Koenigsberg, and the next day the 
Emperor sent them fifty napoleons. 

The ardor of the Russians was abated after these repulses, 
and they were not anxious to recommence the fighting. It 
was well, for our troops were completely exhausted, and our 
ranks visibly thinned. But for our guard our infantry would 
have been overcome. We did not lose the battle, but neither 
did we win it. 

That evening the Emperor led us back to the position we 
had occupied the day before ; he was delighted Avith his guard, 
and said to the general, " Dorsenne, you were not joking 
with my grumblers ; I am very much pleased with you." 
What with cold and hunger, we passed a wretched night. 
The battlefield was covered with the dead and wounded ; their 
cries were blended into one great shriek. One can convey 



146 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

no idea of that terrible clay. The next day was employed in 
digging ditches to bury the dead, and in carrying the wounded 
to the field-hospitals. About noon some casks of brandy, 
which the Jews brought from Warsaw, arrived, escorted by a 
company of grenadiers. The order was given that each man 
should have his turn : a cask was turned up on end, and the 
head knocked in. Two grenadiers held the money bag ; four 
at a time came up, and each dropped in six francs ; then 
dipped a certain sized glass into the cask, and were forbidden 
to dip in a second time. Then four others came up, and so 
on. The four casks saved the army, and the Jews made their 
fortune. They were escorted to Warsaw by a company of 
grenadiers, who were paid three francs a day. 

A truce was agreed upon. It was found impossible to 
continue fighting ; the army had sutf ered too much. The 
Emperor ordered us to move our camps ; but before depart- 
ing, we carried off the sick and wounded on sleds, and also 
the pieces of cannon taken from the enemy and the prisoners. 

On the 17th of February we set out for Thorn and Marien- 
burg, where we found better camping grounds. It was time 
we should, for we had not changed our clothes for a month. 

We came to a large deserted village, called Osterode. It 
was a poverty-stricken place ; but we did find a few potatoes. 
The Emperor took up his quarters in a barn, but finally found 
more comfortable lodgings ; he was always in our midst, and 
often lived on food that was given him by his soldiers. But 
for the soldiers the poor officers would have died of hunger. 
The inhabitants had buried everything underground in the 
forests and in their houses. After much searching, we dis- 
covered their hiding-places. By sounding with the butt ends 
of our guns we found provisions of all sorts : rice, bacon, wheat, 
flour, and hams. Our officers were immediately informed of 
this, and they had the different articles dug up, and placed in 
the storehouse. Our dear Emperor did everything he could 
to procure provisions for us ; but they did not come, and we 
were often without rations. So we had to go out, in all that 
terrible weather, in search of food. '' Come, let us start out 
to-morrow," said I one day. " Let a score of us, well armed, 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 147 

scour the great pine forests, Avliere they say we shall find 
fallow-deer and stags. The snow will be an assistance to us 
in finding the game. We must start at daybreak, and say 
nothing about it to any one; our sergeant will set it all right." 
— "We are agreed," said they; "our little brave fellow wants 
to eat some venison. Come, let us be off." 

With our guns well loaded, we plunged into the forest. A 
herd of deer passed us about two hundred feet away, and then 
a great many hares ; but we missed them every time we fired. 
I saw a hare go leaping by, not very far off, and as he went 
into some small pine-trees about five feet high, which grew 
thick, near by, I bent some of them over to see if I could 
find his burrow. To my astonishment one of the pines came 
up out of the ground. I took hold of another; it came up also. 
I tried another with the same result, and then I shouted to my 
comrades, " This way ! this way ! I have some good news for 
you. These pines are not growing here." — " What do you 
mean ? " they answered. " Come here and see." 

Feeling sure that it was a large hiding-place, we began to 
sound ; but the ramrods were not long enough and the place 
was a hundred feet square. We Avere so glad ! I said, " My 
hare was the cause of our wind-fall ; we must mark the place. 
There is no road to it; how could they have accomplished 
it ? The wretches must have brought the things on their 
backs. Let us now get our bearings, and mark the pine-trees, 
so that we can find our way back to-morrow." 

We went to work and cut off pieces of the bark from the 
pine-trees on the right and left. Being always on the look- 
out, I saw a plank nailed upon a large pine, and then another 
twenty-five feet higher. Of course we had to find out what 
this meant, so Ave cut down some pine-trees, and cut notches 
in the branches to make a ladder. When we reached the box, 
we took out the peg which held up the plank, which was five 
or six feet high, and found salt meats, stuffed tongues, geese, 
hams, bacOn, and honey ; and afterwards, we found two hun- 
dred boxes filled with all sorts of things, among them a great 
many shirts. We carried off the shirts, some of the stuffed 
tongues, and geese. After marking our road, my comrades 



148 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

said, " Our ferret has a good nose." It was late when we 
returned to the camp, loaded down, but glad at heart. The 
sergeant-major immediately informed the officers of our good 
fortune. The captain came to see us. "Here is our ferret," 
said my comrades ; '' it was he who found it all." — " Yes, cap- 
tain, a hiding-place a hundred feet long, and so deep under- 
ground that we could not sound it with our ramrods. Here 
is some ham, bacon, and goose ; take some. To-morrow we 
will set out with wagons, shovels, and pickaxes, and a good 
many men and ammunition, for we must sleep all night in 
the woods." — " Two lieutenants shall go with fifty men," said 
our captain. " You will also need some knapsacks and some 
axes. The lieutenant shall take my horse and a bundle of 
hay ; if you are obliged to stay all night, he can return to 
give us news of you." 

We started off with our officers and all the knapsacks 
belonging to our mess. We reached the place, and, after a 
great deal of hard labor, dug down into the hiding-place. 
What treasures we found there ! It took us twenty-four 
hours to empty the cave. It was good to see our happy faces. 
There was a large quantity of wheat, flour, rice, and bacon ; 
chests full of linen shirts, and salt meats of every kind. They 
had replanted the pines, and replaced the moss. One had to 
go on a hare hunt to discover the treasure. 

The lieutenant returned to make his report and send us 
wagons, and some men from other companies. This hole held 
twenty-five four-horse wagon loads. We had to make a road 
to get to it. How rejoiced all our grumblers were when they 
saw the wagons coming ! their faces sparkled. " This is not 
all," said I; "we have yet to take the hives we found u.p in 
the trees, and look around up in the big pines for boxes." 
Our search was well rewarded: we found more than a hundred 
boxes filled with salt meats, linen, and honey. We all climbed 
up, and filled our knapsacks. 

On our return with all these provisions, we made a big fire 
to cook hams, and regale ourselves, at the expense of the Poles, 
who wanted to starve us, for in our winter quarters we had 
passed fifty days without tasting bread. They had all left their 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 149 

houses. If any remained, it was to watch over their hiding- 
places. When we asked them for food, they always refused. 
They are a people destitute of human feeling ; they are will- 
ing that men should starve at their doors. Hurrah for the 
Germans, who are always resigned to fate, and never desert 
their homes ! 

On our return to the camp, I was triumphantly received by 
the whole regiment. Rice was distributed to the grenadiers, 
and the wheat was ground up to make bread. This discovery 
led to further searching ; taking soundings became our sport. 
All the barns were ransacked, and the pavements of the houses 
and barns taken up. There were hiding-places everywhere, 
and provisions in every place. The Russians were starving, 
too, and they came to beg some potatoes from our soldiers. 
They no longer thought of fighting, and left us undisturbed in 
our quarters. This terrible winter was the cause of great 
suffering to us. 

Seeing a peasant go every morning and look over his garden, 
I watched him, and went there and sounded. I came to some- 
thing which seemed soft, and I went to inform my comrades 
of it. We set to work at once, and discovered the bodies of 
two cows, which were entirely decayed. The smell was terrible. 
But under this carrion there were big casks filled with rice, 
bacon, ham, and all the utensils of the village : saws, axes, 
shovels, and pick-axes ; in short, everything we needed ; and 
also some preserves made of grapes and pears, for our dessert. 
I jumped for joy at having persisted in removing the carrion 
(it was a sickening task). We did not tell our officers about 
this hiding-place, and we got out of it fifteen hundred pounds 
of rice and quantities of bacon. 

Finding that the snows were beginning to melt, the Emperor 
sent for his engineers to come and lay out a camp, in a fine 
position in front of Finkeiastein. The lines were marked off 
in the form of a square. In the middle there was a place for 
a palace, which was to be built of brick. When the plan was 
made out, we went to look for planks to make our barracks. 
In this country the gardens are enclosed with big posts and 
pine planks twenty feet long and a foot wide. We set to work 



150 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



to pull these planks off the posts. We sent off twenty wagons 
loaded with it, and they returned for more. For three leagues 
around all the enclosures were torn down. In a fortnight our 
barracks were completed, and the Emperor's palace was almost 
done. A finer encainpment could not possibly have been found. 
The streets were named after the battles won since the begin- 
ning of the war. Our otiicers were comfortably lodged, and the 
whole army was camped in fine positions. The Emperor went 




around, and was present at the drills. He sent to Dantzig 
for brandy and provisions, and for wine for his staff. All the 
soldiers looked happy. He came often to see us eat our soup, 
and would say, " Do not let me disturb you ; I am much 
pleased with my grumblers ; they have furnished me with 
excellent lodgings, and ray officers have rooms with plank 
floors. The Poles can make a town of it." As we found 
some pieces of cloth in the hiding-places, we made some 
pantaloons, and great bags, six feet long, to sleep in. The 
Poles came with some beautiful ladies, in carriages, to see our 
plank city. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 151 

We passed the month of May trotting around, all fresh and 
be-powdered, as when at Paris. But on the oth of June, our 
brave Marshal Ney was attacked and pursued by a strong 
force of the Russians. A courier arrived, bringing the news 
of it to the Emperor. The camp was at once broken up, and 
we got ready to start. At six o'clock on the morning of the 
6th we set out to join the army. We arrived at our destina- 
tion the next day, and were immediately placed in line of 
baucle with our artillery. We were near Eylau ; we were sent 
to the right and forward to meet the Russians in the lonely 
plain of Friedland, at the ford of a river. They were awaiting 
us in a fine position : they had many redoubts on the heights 
and bridges behind them. 

The brave Marshal Lannes came up from Warsaw, greatly 
disgusted with the Poles. In a discussion with the Emperor, 
in front of the grenadiers, we heard him say to him, " The 
blood of one Frenchman is worth all Poland." The Emperor 
answered, '' If you are not satisfied, go away." — " No," replied 
Lannes, "you (tu) need me." 

This great warrior was the only one who dared say "thou" 
(tu) to the Emperor. Pressing his hand, the latter said, " Set 
off at once with Oudinot's grenadiers, your own corps and the 
cavalry. March upon Friedland. I will send Marshal Ney 
to you." 

These two great soldiers found themselves opposed by 
forces more than double as strong as their own. They held 
out till noon. The grenadiers, light-horsemen, and cavalry 
held the enemy in check till we came up ; but it was all they 
could do. The Emperor went galloping by all the troops who 
were marching up. As he went through a wood where Oudinot's 
wounded men were passing, they called out to him, " Hurry to 
the aid of our comrades. The Russians have the upper hand 
just now." The Emperor, finding the Russians near a river, 
wanted to cut their bridges. He gave this task to the intrepid 
Ney, who went off at a gallop. All the troops came up. The 
Emperor ordered an hour for rest, visited the lines, came 
galloping back to his guard, changed his horse, and gave the 
signal to attack the Russians from all points. The Russians 



152 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

fought like lions ; they preferred to be drowned rather than 
to surrender. 

After this memorable day's fight, which was kept up late by 
the light of the burning of Friedland and some of the neigh- 
boring villages, the fighting ceased, and they took advantage 
of the night to beat a retreat upon Tilsit. Our Emperor slept 
on the battle-field, as usual, so as to see that the ^vounded 
were cared for, and the next day he pursued the Russians to 
the ISTiemen. Our soldiers could only catch up with the rear- 
guard, the stragglers ; they captured some savages named 
Kalmucks, fellows with big noses, flat faces, large ears, and 
quivers full of arrows. There were eighteen hundred cavalry- 
men of them ; but our gilets de fer fell upon them, and hunted 
them down like sheep. They were commanded by Russian 
commissioned and non-commissioned officers. We got permis- 
sion to go to their camp to see these savages. Rations of 
meat were distributed to them, and they devoured it instantly. 
On the 19th of June, our troops found themselves in front of 
the Russians, who had crossed the ISTiemen, and destroyed all 
the bridges. The river is not wide at this place; it runs 
across the foot of a beautiful broad street, which passes 
through Tilsit, and is closed at one end by a sort of barrack, 
where the Russian guard is lodged when in the service of the 
sovereign. His own camp was at the end of a lake, to the 
right of the city. The Emperor reached the Niemen with his 
cavalry. The Russians were on the opposite shore, without 
bread. We were obliged to send them provisions at a distance 
of six or seven leagues. At last an envoy of the Emperor of 
Russia came across the river to hold a parley. He was pre- 
sented to Prince Murat, and then to Napoleon, who gave him 
an immediate answer, for he sent us an order to hold ourselves 
in readiness for the next day. Next day a Russian prince 
came over, and orders Avere issued that we should be under 
arms to receive the Emperor of Russia in front of the whole 
army in full uniform. We were told that a raft was to be 
built upon the river, and that the two Emperors were to hold 
a conference, and make peace. God only knows how glad we 
were to hear this ! We acted like crazy people. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 163 

Tlie officers inspected us carefully, to be sure that nothing 
was wanting in our dress ; our queues were well tied up and 
powdered, our shoulder-belts clean and white. No absences 
were permitted. When all was ready, we were ordered to be 
under arms at eleven o'clock, so as to go down to the river. 
There was awaiting us there the most splendid sight that 
will ever be seen on the Niemen. In the middle of the river 
there was a magnificent raft, covered with large pieces of 
handsome tapestry, and on one side of it, to the left, there 
was a tent. On each shore there was a beautiful barge, richly 
decorated, and manned by a crew from the guard. The Em- 
peror arrived at one o'clock, and entered his barge with his 
staff. The Emperors left either shore at the same signal ; 
they had each the same distance to go, the same course to 
take ; but our Emperor was the first to reach the raft. The 
two great men embraced each other as if they had been 
brothers returning from exile ; and from every side rose 
shouts of " Vive I'Empereur ! " 

The interview was prolonged, and then each withdrew to 
his own shore. The next day we went through the same 
display. This time it was to receive the King of Prussia. 
Fortunately, Alexander the Great was there to defend him ; 
he looked like a victim. My God, how thin he was ! He was 
a miserable sovereign, but he had a very beautiful queen. 
This interview between the three sovereigns was short, and it 
was agreed that our Emperor should give them board and 
lodging in the city. This was magnanimous, after having 
thrashed them well ; but he bore them no malice. 

The city was then divided in half, and the next day the 
whole guard was under arms in the beautiful street of Tilsit, 
three ranks deep on each side. Our Emperor went down to 
the bank of the river to meet the Emperor of Eussia, and took 
with him horses to mount the Emperor and the princes. The 
King of Prussia was not there that day. What a fine sight it 
was ! all those sovereigns and princes and marshals, among 
them the proud Murat, who rivalled the Emperor of Russia in 
beauty of person ; and all in splendid uniform ! The Emperor 
of Russia came in front of us, and said to Colonel Frederic, 



154 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGN ET. 

" You have a fine guard, colonel." — " And a good one, sire," 
said he to the Emperor, who answered, " I know it." 

The next day he entertained them with a grand review of 
his guard, and the third corps, commanded by Marshal Davoust, 
in a plain about a league from Tilsit. The day was fine ; the 
guard as dazzling as when at Paris, and there was no fault to 
be found with the marshal's corps. They all had on white 
pantaloons. After being reviewed by the three sovereigns, 
we were made to march past by division, commencing with 
the third corps, and after them the " grumblers." It was 
like a marching rampart. The Emperor of Russia, the King 
of Prussia, and all their generals saluted each division of the 
guard as it passed them. 

Orders were issued that we should prepare to give an enter- 
tainment to the Russian guard. Very long and wide tents 
were to be put up, with the openings all on a line, and with 
beautiful pine-trees planted in front of them. One-half of us 
went with our officers to get the pine-trees, and the other half 
put up the tents. Eight days were given us to make our 
preparations, and a circuit of eight miles of country in which 
to procure provisions. We started off in good order, and that 
day the provisions were contracted for. The next day more 
than fifty wagons, loaded and driven by peasants, came to the 
camp. The peasants had conformed to this requisition with 
good grace, and they were sent off entirely satisfied. They 
thought that the carts, which were drawn by oxen, would be 
detained at the camp ; but they were discharged immediately, 
and the peasants jumped for joy. At noon, on the 30th of 
June, our feast was spread. More beautiful tables were liever 
seen, all decorated with epergnes made of turf, and filled with 
flowers. In the back part of each tent there were two stars 
with the names of the two great emperors formed of flowers, 
and draped with the French and Russian flags. 

We marched out in corps to meet this fine guard, which 
was to arrive by company. We each offered an arm to one of 
the giants, and, as there were more of us than of them, two of 
us offered. They were so tall they might have used us as 
walking-canes. As for me, the smallest of all, I had one of 






" I was obliged to look up to see his face. I looked like a little boy 
beside him." — Page 155. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 155 

them all to myself. I was obliged to look up to see his face. 
I looked like a little boy beside him. They were astonished 
to see us so splendidly dressed : even our cooks were all pow- 
dered, and wore white aprons to wait in. In fact, everything 
was in the best style. 

We seated our guests at table between us, and the dinner 
was well served. Everybody was in the highest spirits. 
These famished men could not control themselves ; they did 
not know how to show the reserve which is proper at table. 
Brandy was served ; it was the liquor used at the entertain- 
ment. Before presenting it to them, we had to taste it, and 
then offer it in a tin goblet, which held a quarter of a litre. 
The contents of the goblet would instantly disappear. They 
would swallow pieces of meat as large as an egg at each 
mouthful. They seemed to become very uncomfortable. We 
made signs to them to unbutton their coats, doing the same 
thing ourselves. This rendered them comfortable. They had 
rags stuffed inside their uniforms to make them full-chested, 
and it was disgusting to see these rags hanging out. 

Two aides-de-camp, one from our Emperor and one from 
the Emperor of Russia, came to tell us not to move from the 
tables, as the Emperors were coming to make us a visit. They 
soon arrived. Our Emperor motioned to us to remain seated. 
They walked round the table, and the Emperor of Russia said 
to us, " Grenadiers, your entertainment is worthy of you." 

After the Emperors were gone, the Russians, who were now 
at their ease, began to eat again, as hard as they could. We 
stuffed them with meat and drink, and when they found they 
could not eat all that was on the table, what do you suppose 
they did ? They poked their lingers down their throats, 
threw up their dinner in a pile between their legs, and began 
eating again with all their might. It was disgusting to see 
such conduct. They thus made three meals at one dinner. 
That evening we accompanied those who could be taken away, 
to their quarters, and left the rest of them in their vomit, 
under the table. 

One of our fellows took a notion to disguise himself as a 
Russian, and offered to change uniforms with one of them. 



156 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

The exchange was made, and they started off, arm in arm. 
On reaching the beautiful street of Tilsit, our fellow let go 
the Russian's arm. He met a Russian sergeant to whom he 
made no salute, and who gave him three blows over his 
shoulder with his cane. At this he forgot his disguise, 
leaped upon the sergeant, and threw him down. He would 
have killed him, if he had been allowed to do so, and that 
under the very balcony from which the two Emperors were 
watching the merry soldiery. This scene caused them to 
laugh heartily. The sergeant was left on the ground, and 
everybody was glad of it, especially the Russian soldiers. 

When the Emperor had arranged his affairs, he made his 
adieux to the Emperor of Russia, and, on the 10th of July, 
left Tilsit for Koenigsberg, where he arrived the same day. 
We set out at once to join him by way of Eylau. Here we saw 
the graves of our brave comrades who had died for their coun- 
try. Our officers ordered us to carry arms, and pass through 
the battle-field in solemn silence. We Avent on to Koenigs- 
berg, a beautiful maritime city, and there we were lodged and 
fed by the inhabitants. The English, not knowing that peace 
had been signed, came into port with ships loaded with provis- 
ions for the Russian army. One of these ships was loaded 
with herrings, and the other with snuff. We concealed our 
troops in the houses along the harboi'. As soon as the ships 
entered the harbor we fired on them, and they surrendered. 
Good Lord, what a quantity of snuff and herrings ! Six 
packages and a dozen herrings were given to each man in 
the troop. The Russians who were on board the captured 
vessels were glad to be taken prisoners, and our Emperor sent 
them back to their sovereign. 

At this time we received orders to plant trees along the 
principal street, and to sand it, to receive the Queen of Prussia, 
who was coming to visit our Emperor. She arrived at ten 
o'clock at night. Lord, how beautiful' she looked with her 
turban on her head ! It was said that she was the beautiful 
queen of an ugly king, but I think that she was both king 
and queen. The Emperor came to the bottom of the great 
stairway to receive her, and offered her his hand ; but she 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 157 

could not make him yield. I had the good fortune to stand 
guard at the foot of the stairway that evening, so I could see 
her near at hand ; and the next day, at noon, I was put at the 
same post. I had a good chance to look at her. How beau- 
tiful she was, and what a queenly bearing ! At thirty -three, I 
would have given one of my ears to stay beside her as long 
as the Emperor did. This was the last time I ever went on 
guard as a common soldier. 

General Dorsenne received orders to distribute to us the 
shoes and shirts Avhich were in the Russian and Prussian store- 
houses, and have us inspected. The Emperor was to review 
his guard before leaving. All was in commotion. We found 
everything as it should be in that beautiful city. Its cleanli- 
ness was unrivalled. French ladies should go there, if they 
want to see dazzling apartments : shovels, tongs, doorways, 
balconies, everything was shining. There were spittoons in 
all the corners of the rooms, and the linen was as white as 
snow. It was a perfect model of neatness. After the shoes 
and linen had been distributed, the general ordered his cap- 
tains to inspect their companies. The review was to take 
place on the square at eleven o'clock. 

Captain Renard went to see the adjutant-major, M. Belcourt, 
to talk with him about me. They sent for me to tell me that 
I was to be made corporal in my company, as they wished to 
reward me. " But," said I, '• I do not know how to read or 
write." — "You shall learn." — ''Ah! I thank you; but that 
is impossible." — " You shall be corporal to-day, and if the 
general asks you if you can read and write, you must answer, 
' Yes, general,' and I will undertake to have you taught. I 
have* some well-educated young soldiers, who will be very glad 
to teach you." I was very much ashamed to have to learn to 
read and write at the age of thirty-three, and I cursed my 
father for having abandoned me. 

Finally, at noon, j\I. Belcourt and my captain went up to 
the general, and had a talk with him. " Order him out of the 
ranks." He eyed me from head to foot, and, seeing my cross, 
he asked me, " When were you decorated ? " — " Among the 
first. I was at the Invalides." — " The first one, were you ?" 



158 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

said he. "Yes, general."' — ^' Have him made corporal at 
once." I felt relieved, for I was trembling in presence of 
this man, so strict and so just. The whole company was sur- 
prised at seeing me appointed corporal in my own company ; 
no one had suspected it. All the corporals came around me, and 
said kindly, " Never mind ; we will show you how to write." 
As soon as I reached my lodging, I went immediately to see 
my sergeant-major, who took me by the hand, saying, "Let us 
go at once to see the captain." 

He received me cordially, and said that he should give me 
a mess of nineteen men, and put into it seven of the most 
negligent but best educated recruits. " He will train them," 
said he to the sergeant-major, "and they will show him how 
to read and write. I give you charge of this good work. He 
deserves it, for he saved our lives ; we always found some- 
thing to eat at his bivouac." I went to see M. Belcourt, who 
remembered the eagerness with which I had returned to him 
his lost watch. Seeing him one day galloping about in the 
rear, I said to him, " Where are you going so fast, major ? 
You have lost your watch ; there it is." — " That was one of 
the kindnesses one does not easily forget," said M. Belcourt. 
" Go on ; do your duty ; you will not be left behind." Lord, 
how pleased I was with that reception ! 

I now found myself the head of a mess of twelve " grum- 
blers " and seven well-educated recruits. The sergeant-major 
had told them what to do, for they started out at once for the 
bookseller to buy paper, pens, ruler, pencil, and an old Testa- 
ment. I was surprised to find that I was to have seven 
teachers. " See here," said they ; " these are what we are 
going to work with." — "I," said the one whose name was 
Galot, "am going to set your copies." — "And I," said he 
whose naiue was Gobin, " will teach you to read." — " AVe 
will all teach him to read by turns," said they all. "All 
right, I thank you all," said I ; " I will repay you by taking 
care of your uniforms, which need putting in order." 

But this was not all. The seven corporals of the company 
came and brought me two pairs of straps, and the tailor to 
sew them on. "Come," said they, "take off your coat. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 



159 



These straps belonged to two of our comrades, who died on 
the held of honor." — " Indeed," said I to them, •' you take 
too much trouble on my account ; we must christen them." — 
"No," they replied; "there are too many of us." — "No 
matter; we will take a cup of coffee and a little glass of some- 
thing. But I beg you will allow me to invite my teachers 
and the tailor who sewed on my chevrons to join us." — " All 
right," said they, "we will go." So I started off with my 
fifteen men for the cafe. I seated them at a table, and went 




to find the host, and said to him, " I shall pay the bill for all, 
you understand." — " All right," said he. " Be sure to let us 
have some French brandy." — " You shall have some." I was 
twelve francs out of pocket, and we left the cafe well pleased. 
I said my lessons regularly, like a child, beginning by mak- 
ing crooked marks, and learning verses in the Testament, and 
reciting them to my teacher. But we had to pass the final 
review, and the next day, July 13, we started for Berlin in 
high spirits. The people of Berlin came out to meet us ; they 
knew that peace had been made. We could not have been 
more kindly received : we were comfortably lodged, and many 



160 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

of them took us to cafes. They said to us, " So the Russians 
found their masters, did they ? But they say that our sol- 
diers do not fight well." — " Your soldiers are as brave as the 
Russians, and the Emperor had your wounded men well cared 
for ; we carried them to the field-hospitals, as we did our own. 
You have also a great general, who took good care of our 
prisoners ; our Emperor knows him well." Then they grasped 
us by the hand, saying, " That is like Frenchmen ! " But I 
said to them, "Your prisoners are better off than your sol- 
diers ; they have good bread, work well paid, and not beaten." ^ 
— " How kind you are, corporal ! you make us very happy. 
You have behaved yourselves in Berlin as though 3'ou were 
our own countrymen." — "I thank you in the name of my 
comrades." ^ 

We marched by way of the regular halting-places. The 
large towns of Potsdam, Magdeburg, Brunswick, Frankfort, 
and Mayence received us with triumphant demonstrations. 
Joy was painted on every countenance. The country people 
came out on the roads to see us go by. All along the way 
refreshments were prepared for us in the villages. The vil- 
lages vied with the cities in their attentions to us. Well fed 
and triumphant, we returned to the gates of our own capital, 
which surpasses all others that I have ever seen. There tri- 
umphal arches awaited us, magnificent receptions, the theatres, 
and the beautiful ladies of Paris, who were there looking down 
upon us. 

The Emperor received us at the Tuileries in our clean, but 
threadbare, uniforms. Then we marched through the garden 
of the Tuileries, and sat down to dinner at a table in the 
Avenue de I'Etoile, and thence on to Courbevoie to rest awhile. 
But the Emperor did not allow us to remain quiet long. He 
immediately established regimental schools, and sent to Paris 
for two professors to instruct us : one in the morning and the 
other in the evening. 

1 Corporal punishment formed and, indeed, still forms a part of Prussian military 
discipline. 

2 One cannot help thinking here of the contrast presented by our relations as 
belligerents sixty-four years later. And yet we are told that civilization softens the 
manners. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 161 

This was a great help to me. I immediately purchased a 
grammar and a theory. Twice a day I had recitations, and, 
with the assistance of my recruits, I made rapid progress. I 
never left my studies, except to go on guard. As soon as my 
recitations were over, I went off, and concealed myself in a 
very secluded part of the Bois de Boulogne, and there studied 
my theory. At the end of two months, I could write a large 
hand, and I can say I did it well.-^ The professors said to me, 
" If we have you for a year, you will know how to write very 
well ; you have a good hand." How proud I felt ! 

The Emperor also established a swimming-school, where we 
could learn to swim. He had some barges placed near the 
bridge of Neuilly, and there a broad girth was passed under 
the stomach of each grenadier who did not know how to 
swim ; then two men in each barge would hold on to it, and 
the soldiers thus became so daring, that in two months there 
were eight hundred grenadiers who could swim across the 
Seine. I was told that I must learn to swim. I answered 
that I was too much afraid of the water. " Very well," said 
the adjutant-major, "let him alone; do not force him." — 
" Thank you." 

The Emperor ordered that the strongest swimmers should 
be held in readiness, at noon, in undress with linen pantaloons. 
The next day he came into the court-yard of our barracks, and 
the swimmers were ordered out. He was accompanied by his 
favorite Marshal Lannes. He asked for a hundred of the 
boldest swimmers. The best of them were pointed out to him. 
" I want them to swim across with their guns and cartridge- 
boxes on their heads." Then he said to M. Belcourt, "Can 
you lead them?" — "Yes, sire." — "Go, then, and get them 
ready ; I will wait for 3'ou." He walked up and down the 
court-yard, and seeing me such a little one among the others, 
he said to the adjutant-major, "Send that little decorated 
grenadier to me." I came, feeling very much like a fool. 
"' Do you know how to swim ? " said he. " Xo, sire." — 
" Why not ? " — "I am not afraid of fire, but I am afraid of 

1 The sight of Coignet's autograph manuscript compels us to say that he is boast- 
ing a little. 



162 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

water." — " Oh ! you are not afraid of fire ! Very well," said 
he to M. Belcourt, '' I exempt him from swimming." 

I retired quite happy. The hundred swimmers being ready, 
they went down to the shore of the Seine ; there were two 
boats, manned by sailors from the guard, to follow them, and 
the Emperor dismounted on the bank. All the swimmers 
passed under the bridge in front of the castle of ISTeuilly with- 
out any accident. M. Belcourt, alone, was drawn under by 
the long grass which was dragged along by the current, and 
wound around his legs ; but the boatmen immediately went to 
his assistance, and he passed on with the others. When they 
reached the opposite shore, they made a fire. The Emperor 
galloped off, rode round and went where they were. He ordered 
that some good wine should be given to the '' grumblers " at 
once, and that they should be sent back in boats. Wine was 
distributed to all of us, and twenty -five sous to each swimmer. 
The Emperor also took a fancy to send a squadron of chas- 
seurs, with arms and baggage, across the Seine in front of the 
Invalides, at the place now occupied by the bridge. They 
crossed without accident, and reached the Champs Elysees. 
The Emperor was delighted, but the chasseurs and their bag- 
gage were wet. 

My duties as corporal increased : two lessons a day, and one 
from my two recruits, to say nothing of my theory, which I 
Avas obliged to recite every day. I used to know it perfectly 
when I started from the place where I went to study it, but 
when I came up to M. Belcourt, I could not rej)eat a single 
word. "Well," he said, "how is this? Go sit down." — "I 
knew it," I answered. "Come then, try again." — " I will." 
And I then recited every word of it. " Very well," said he 
one day. " That will do. To-morrow no more theory. We 
will now learn the tone of command." ISText day he gathered 
us around him. "Now," said he, "I am going to begin." 
We each had to repeat his command in turn. I used my 
voice so well that he was surprised, and said to me, " Begin 
again, and do not be in a hurry. I shall give the command, 
and you have only to repeat after me. Do not be timid ; you 
come here to learn." Then I shouted. "That^s right," said 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 



163 



he, "See, gentlemen, littla Corporal Coignet will make a 
good tutor. In a month he Avill surpass us." — "Ah, major, 
you make me feel abashed." — " You will see," said he, "when 
you have more self-possession." 

As for my theor}^, I did not get along very well with that ; 
I was always at work on it, but I did not do nearly so well as 
my comrades, who recited like parrots. I retaliated on them, 
however, by surpassing them all in practice. I became very 
skilful in the use of arms, but was always suffering from my 
ignorance. I purchased two hundred little wooden soldiers, 
and used to drill them. 




When there was a grand drill, I tried to remember every 
command. The brave general, Harlay, who commanded, was 
a perfect drill-master ; one could learn under him. The flank 
movement by battalion is the most difficult. It is necessary 
to start off simultaneously, and to halt in the same manner, 
turn to the front with a " Left face ! " all keeping at the same 
distance from one another, and in a perfect line Avith the line 
guides. Also we had to give the commands, "March" and 
" Halt " on the left foot. I remembered every word of these 
difficult tactics. I scarcely ever left my barracks. 

About the end of August, the Emperor had grand drills and 
frequent reviews in the plain of St. Denis. We perceived 



16-i THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

that he was preparing for another campaign. There were 
troubles brewing in the direction of Madrid. 

We had a good time in Paris until the month of October;, 
1808, going through reviews, and making cartridges. I espe- 
cially devoted myself to improving my writing and theory. 
Geiieral Dorsenne held inspections every Sunday. This strict 
general Avould come into our rooms, and pass his hand along 
the bread-shelf overhead, and, if he found one speck of dust on 
it, four days in the guard-room for tlie corporal ! He raised 
up our vests to see if our shirts were clean. He even examined 
our feet, our finger-nails, and our ears to see if they had been 
attended to. He looked into our trunks to see that we had no 
soiled clothes in them. He even looked under the mattresses. 
We were all afraid of him. Once a fortnight, he came with 
the surgeon-major to visit us while we were in bed. We had 
to turn out in our shirts, and were forbidden to absent our- 
selves on these occasions under pain of imprisonment. 

Finally, early in October, the Emperor issued orders for us 
to hold ourselves in readiness to march in a few days. Our 
officers had our trunks packed so they could be taken to the 
storehouse. And it was well they did : the order came for us 
to start for Bayonne. I said to my comrades, *' We are going 
to Spain : beware of the fleas and the lice ! They root up the 
straw in the barracks, and run around over the pavement like 
mice. Have an eye to our drunkards, too, the wine of that 
country sets them crazy ; it is impossible to drink it." All 
turned out as I had predicted. At the end of a week's sojourn 
in Valladolid, we had to feed the soup to our drunkards : they 
trembled so they could not hold their spoons. 

From Bayonne we went to Irun ; thence to Vittoria, a 
pretty town, and thence to Burgos, where we remained a few 
days. There is a fine church there ; the interior of the build- 
ing is exceedingly beautiful. There is an immense clock 
inside, and at noon its two doors open, and different curious 
objects come out. The principal spire of this handsome edi- 
fice is flanked by small towers which form four fronts, and 
contain beautiful rooms, which all communicate. A small 
stairway, leading from a wide vestibule, runs along the left 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 165 

side of the building ; at the end of it there is a beautiful gar- 
den. Our horse-grenadiers put up their horses under the fine 
old arches, which were filled on the left side with bales of 
cotton. They were about to start out on a foraging party, 
when, at the foot of the small stairway, appeared a little boy 
of eleven or twelve years, who seemed to wish to attract the 
attention of our grenadiers. As soon as one of them saw him, 
he ran back up the stairway ; but the grenadier followed him, 
and caught up with him at the top of the steps. As soon as 
he reached the landing-place, the little boy opened a door, and 
the grenadier entered with him. The door closed, and the 
monks cut off his head. The little boy came down again, 
showed himself as before, and another grenadier followed him, 
and fell a victim to the same fate. The little boy returned a 
third time, but a grenadier who had seen his comrades go up 
the stairway, said to those who had just returned from the 
foraging party, "Two of our men have already gone up to 
the belfry, and have not returned. They are, perhaps, shut 
up in the belfry ; we must see about it at once."' 

So they started off in pursuit of the child. They took their 
carbines along, mounted the narroAV stairway, and, to prevent 
being surprised, fired them off when they reached the top, 
burst open the door, and found their comrades lying there 
Avith their heads cut off and bathed in their own blood. Our 
old soldiers became perfectly enraged. They slaughtered the 
wicked monks; there were eight of them, and they had all 
sorts of ammunition, provisions, and wine. It was quite a 
fortress. We threw the Capuchins and the little boy out of 
the dormer-windows down into the garden. 

After having rendered a last duty to our comrades, we left 
Burgos, and marched forward. After going two leagues, we 
came up with the King of Spain, who had come to meet his 
brother, our Emperor, and they set off to rejoin the army 
which was moving on Madrid. They caught up with the ad- 
vance guard, which was being closely pursued. On the 30th of 
November, 1808, the battle of the Sierra took place. Tt was 
a most difficult position, but the Emperor did not hesitate ; he 
assembled all his sharp-shooters, and stationed them along 



166 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

the mountains. When he saw them coming near the flank of 
the enemy's artillery, he sent the Polish lancers out upon the 
highway with the horse chasseurs of the guard, and ordered 
them to clear the mountain without stopping. It was bris- 
tling with pieces of cannon. They started off at a gallop, 
cutting down everything before them. The ground was strewn 
with horses and men. The sappers cleared the road by throw- 
ing them down into the ravines. 

The Spaniards made every effort to defend their capital, but 
the Emperor turned Madrid, which was blockaded. The gar- 
rison was very weak ; even the inhabitants and the monks 
had taken up arms. They had all joined in the revolt, had 
taken up the pavements of the city, and carried the stones up 
into their houses. We were ordered to camp near a chateau 
a short distance from Madrid, where we remained two days. 
There was not enough water in the castle well to supply us, 
and we were obliged to go off in search of some. We re- 
turned to camp with two hundred asses laden with wine in 
leather bottles made of goat-skin, and we had to shave our- 
selves with wine. We tied our quadrupeds to some posts for 
the night, but the next morning they made such a fearful 
noise that the Emperor could not stand it, and sent an aide-de- 
camp to put a stop to the racket. We let the poor beasts 
loose, and, finding themselves at liberty, they escaped into the 
open fields where, having nothing else to eat, they devoured 
each other. 

The cannonading was unceasing ; balls were sent into the 
city from every direction ; but they would not surrender. 
However, their losses were finally so great that they were 
compelled to do so. The Emperor declared that if a single 
stone should fall on his soldiers, he would put all the inhab- 
itants to death with the sword. They gained nothing but the 
trouble of repaving their principal streets. 

The city is large and not handsome : great squares filled 
with ugly barracks. But there is one in the centre of the 
town which it is impossible not to admire, on account of its 
beautiful facade, fine walks, and lovely fountain ; this is the 
handsomest square in the city. As for the palaces, the en- 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 167 

trances are not set off to any advantage. One enters into a very 
shabby reception-room, with a guard-room on the left. The 
palace, on the right, is much below the city ; it is built on a 
ravine or precipice of immense depth. The front of it is 
superb, and one descends to it by a magnificent stairway. 
The part of it which fronts the city is only a one-storied 
building with handsome steps leading up to it. The halls are 
magnificent, and there is a very costly steel clock. 

Marshal Lannes was commanded to take Saragossa, which 
cost great loss to our army. All the houses were furnished 
with battlements, and we had to carry them one at a time. 
The Emperor left Madrid with all his guard, and we came to 
the foot of a steep mountain, covered with snow like St. 
Bernard. We encountered untold diificulties in crossing it. 
Just before reaching this terrible pass, we were overtaken by 
a snow-storm which almost blew us over. We were obliged 
to hold on to one another, as we could not see a step before us. 
It was necessary to have an Emperor like ours to follow, in 
order to be able to resist it. We slept at the foot of this 
mountain, wliich cost our artillery much labor to cross, and 
then descended on the other side into a plain where there 
were some miserable villages which had been devastated by 
the English. We came to the shore of a river, which we 
found was extremely rapid, and from which all the bridges 
had been cut away. We had to ford it, holding on to one 
another, scarcely daring to raise our feet lest we should be 
carried away by the rapidity of the current. Our caps were 
covered Avith sleet. Imagine the delights of such a bath in 
the month of January ! When we stepped into this river it 
came up to our waists. We were ordered to take off our 
breeches before crossing the two branches of the river, and, 
when we came out of the water, our legs and thighs were as 
red as lobsters. 

On the other side, there was a field w^here our cavalry suc- 
cessfully charged the English. We had to pursue them in 
order to support the charge, and we marched at a quickstep, 
without stopping, as far as Benevento, which we found had 
also been ravaged by the English ; fchey had carried off every- 



168 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

thing. Our cavalry pursued them as far as possible. They 
killed all their horses, and abandoned all tlieir baggage-wagons 
and artillery. The Emperor ordered us to recross the terrible 
river. Think of two such baths in one day ! This was some- 
thing to grumble at ; but he had provided for our comfort, and 
had had fires lighted a short distance off, so we could warm 
ourselves. 

The whole guard now started for Valladolid, a large city. 
Here even the monks had taken up arms : all the convents 
were deserted, and we were at no loss for lodgings. We were 
ordered to return to France by forced marches, and the 




Emperor set out for Paris. He had a little surprise prepared 
for us on our arrival at Limoges, for he wanted to take care 
of our legs and our shoes. We were received in this city, and 
passed the night there. The next day our officers said, "Take 
the hammers off your guns, and wrap them up well with the 
screws and the bayonets lest they should be lost. The whole 
guard will go to Paris in wagons. The wagons are ready out- 
side the city." 

As I was taking my gun to pieces, I said to my captain, 
" They surely take us for calves, putting us in on straw in 
this fashion." He laughed, and replied, " That is so ; but 
time presses. Tliere is mischief brewing. We are not yet 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 169 

ready to sleep in our beds, and one cannot tell what may hap- 
pen between here and Paris." 

After taking our guns to pieces, we started off. Crowds of 
people were on the streets. Outside of the city we found the 
wagons with the bottoms covered with straw waiting for us. 
The gendarmes were stationed in lines on each side of the 
road to guard them. We mounted by companies, in perfect 
order ; the number in each wagon was according to the capac- 
ity of the vehicle ; for instance, if there were three horses, 
twelve men were put in. When we reached the relay five 
francs were paid for each draft horse, and, if the horse died, 
three hundred francs were paid at once. Paymasters were on 
hand when the troops arrived, ready to pay for everything, 
and other wagons were ready for a fresh start. Tickets for 
refreshment had been issued to each company. The inhab- 
itants came out to meet the train of wagons, each having an 
order for a certain number of men whom they were to feed, 
and took them off at once to seat them at table. Everything 
was in readiness everywhere. We had only three-quarters of 
an hour for eating, and started off immediately after. The 
drum-major had his food brought to him at his place, so that 
he could be ready to sound the roll-call at the precise moment. 
There was no delay. When we were ready to start, the bat- 
talion was spread out in a line along the road, so that each 
company faced the wagons into which they were to mount by 
messes. There was not a moment lost : each man felt the 
need of doing his duty. We travelled twenty-five leagues a 
day. It was as though a streak of lightning passed from the 
south to the north. 

The long journey from Limoges to Versailles was soon 
made. On arriving at the gates of that beautiful city, we 
were ordered to get out of the wagons and enter. We had to 
remount our guns, and march through the city in a state of 
utter weariness and starvation (we were neither shaved nor 
combed). We counted on finding wagons on the other side of 
Versailles, but we were mistaken. We were obliged to go on 
foot as far as Courbevoie, where we were to pass the night, 
and where, half dead with fatigue and hunger, we found pro- 
visions and wine. 



170 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

The next day was occupied in making ourselves clean. We 
drew upon the stores of linen and shoes, and the day after 
that the Emperor reviewed us. Then we started off at once, 
but the favor was granted us of being sent in cabs : a requisi- 
tion had been made for all in the city. Four grenadiers in a 
cab, with bags and guns, was the arrangement. When we 
arrived at Claye, we gave some hay to our miserable nags, fed 
our coachmen, and started off again in the same carriages. At 
each halting-place we found our dinners waiting on the table. 

We went to Ferte-sous-Jouarre, where the big wagons of 
Brie with big horses and good fresh straw awaited us (twelve 
men to each wagon). Those cursed roads were full of deep 




ruts and large stones. The jolting knocked us together, and 
threw us down upon one another. Lord, what suffering it 
was ! We travelled twenty-five or six leagues every day. On 
reaching Lorraine, we found small light horses and small low 
carriages, which carried us along like the wind ; they were 
hitched one horse before the other. We were able to make 
thirty leagues with such horses ; but it was frightful to descend 
the steep mountains with them, particularly those where the 
road turns off towards Metz. When we arrived at the gates 
of this city, we had to salute it, consequently we were obliged 
to remount our guns, and put on our full uniforms, iinpack our 
knapsacks, and change our linen. More than ten thousand 
people had come out to see us, among them a great many 
ladies who had never seen the Emperor's guard. As soon as 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 171 

our guns were mounted, we opened our knapsacks to change 
our clothes. It was a high wind, in which to change our 
shirts ; they all flew up in the air, and, consequently, the field 
was soon cleared. But we could not do otherwise. 

Our entrance into the city was magnificent : we were lodged 
with the citizens, and kindly treated. The Emperor said that 
the Lorraine horses, by their fleetness, had caused the guard to 
gain fifty leagues. We then set out from Metz, with orders not 
to halt night or day. We were guided by a fairy wand. It 
was night when we reached Ulm. Our billets for lodging were 
given us, but, after we had eaten something, the drums beat 
the grenadiere, and we had to fly to arms immediately. On 
the road to Augsburg we had a roll-call at nine o'clock at 
night. No more carriages after that ; we were in the enemy's 
country. We had to rub up our legs, and march all night. 
We came to a town about nine o'clock in the morning. We 
were only allowed three-quarters of an hour to eat, and started 
of£ again immediately. We were obliged to march twenty-one 
leagues the first day with our hea,vy loads on our backs. 

Then only a halt of half an hour. The next day no time 
for rest, except just long enough to eat and be off again. We 
had still twenty miles to make before reaching Schoenbrunn. 
After going fifteen or sixteen leagues, we were ordered into 
line of battle in front of a large village, and there the requisition 
was sent for twenty-five brave men to volunteer to join the 
Emperor at the gates of Vienna, and mount guard at the cas- 
tle of Schoenbrunn. I remembered that I had stood guard there 
many a time. I was the first to step out of the ranks. "I 
will go," said I to my captain. " That's right," said General 
Dorsenne, "the smallest of you sets a good example." 

The number was soon made up, and we started off. A bot- 
tle of wine was promised to each of us when we should be 
within three leagues of Vienna. We reached that point at 
nine o'clock at night, utterly worn out and very thirsty, and 
counting on the promise of the bottle of wine. But no wine 
was forthcoming. We had to go right on without stopping. 
I turned out of the way to look for some water to quench the 
thirst which was consuming me. I ran along the street, and 



172 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

met a peasant who was coming my way. He was carrying a 
bucket full of something, and, seeing me, he went into a fine- 
looking house where a sentinel was standing guard. I passed 
on, but at the corner of the street I crouched along the wall. 
The peasant came out again with his pail. I spoke to him in 
his own language. To my surprise his pail was full of wine. 
I made him stop in front of me, and hold up his pail with both 
hands, while I, putting my gun down on the ground, began to 
drink as hard as I could. I never before was so thankful for 
something to drink. This set me on my legs for the next 
three leagues, and I rejoined my comrades with a heart full 
of contentment. 

We reached the village of Schoenbrunn at midnight. Our 
officers had the imprudence to allow us to rest about a quarter 
of an hour's march from the castle, awaiting orders from the 
Emperor, who, when he heard of our arrival, was furious. 
" What," said he, " have you marched my veterans more than 
forty leagues in two days ? Who ordered you to do this ? 
Where are they ? " — " Near by." — " Tell them to come here, 
that I may see them." 

We were ordered to rise, but our limbs were as stiff as the 
barrel of a gun. We could not go any farther. We had to use 
our guns as crutches to help ourselves along. When the Em- 
peror saw us coming, all bent over on the butt-ends of our 
guns, not one erect, all with heads bowed down, he became 
like a raging lion. " Can it be that these are my veterans in 
this condition ? Suppose I needed them at this moment ! 
You are . . ." He said everything he could to them. He 
said to the horse-grenadiers, " Have large fires made imme- 
diately in the middle of the courtyard, and go for straw for 
them to lie down on ; have some pots of sweetened wine 
heated." 

Large pots were quickly put on the fire to make soup for 
us ; and it was a sight to see the cavalry-men running around, 
and the Emperor having things brought for us. During the 
bombardment of Vienna, the inhabitants of the city had con- 
cealed some grocery wagons which were in front of the gates 
of the city ; they contained sugar and nuts and raisins. The 




"The Emperor never left us; he stayed witli us more tluan an hour." — 
Page 173. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 173 

sugar was now brought out, some of it was put in the basins 
of warm wine, and all sorts of cups were collected. The Em- 
peror never left us : he stayed with us more than an hour. 
When the wine was ready, the grenadiers came around the 
fires to give us some to drink. Not being able to raise our- 
selves up, they were obliged to raise our heads so we could 
drink. The wicked grenadiers jeered at us, saying, "Your 
shoes and the straps of your knapsacks have overcome you. 
Come, drink to the health of the Emperor and your good com- 
rades. We will stay by you all night, and take care of you. 
In a little while we will give you something more to drink, 
and then you can go to sleep ; the soup is ready ; to-morrow 
you will be all right again." 

The Emperor returned to his palace. At five o'clock we sat 
up on our straw to eat our soup, meat, bread, and wine. At 
nine o'clock the Emperor came out again to see us, and ordered 
our officers to make us rise ; but we each had to have two men 
to assist us to walk, our limbs were so stiff. The Emperor 
stamped his feet angrily ; the grenadiers mocked us, and our 
officers did not dare show themselves for fear of a scolding. 
That night lodgings were found for us in that beautiful and 
wealthy village, and the whole guard arrived, and was com- 
fortably quartered. 

The bombardment of Vienna had ceased : our troops had 
aken possession of the capital. The Austrian armies had 
llown up the bridges, after crossing over to the other side of 
the Danube. Great jDreparations were made for recommencing 
hostilities ; in order to follow them up, we had to cross this 
terrible river, which was swollen and rushing on like a torrent. 
The water was very high, and even large boats were anchored 
with diflRculty. Very strong boats were needed to make a 
bridge of such immense length over such a rapid current. 
All these preparations required time. The Emperor, we were 
told, had his large boats brought down about three leagues 
beloAv Vienna, in front of the island of Lobau and the field of 
Essling. When the two bridges were completed, the Emperor 
sent Marshal Lannes' corps down to await orders to cross ; he 
placed a hundred thousand men in Vienna to hold that capital, 



174 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET, 

and keep a strict watcli upon all the buildings, so that no one 
could hold any communication with Prince Charles from the 
other side. The streets were strictly patrolled, and all the 
people were shut up in their houses. Then a pretence of 
crossing was made in front of Vienna so as to keep Prince 
Charles's army in front of his capital, and prevent them from 
moving down towards Essling. 

When all was in readiness, the Emperor promoted some of 
his guard. I was appointed sergeant the 18th of May, 1809, 
at Schoenbrunn. It was an inexpressible joy to me to find 
myself a non-commissioned oificer, with the rank of lieuten- 
ant of the line, and the right, when in Paris, to carry a sword 
and a cane. I was to remain with my company ; but I did not 
have any sergeant's chevrons. I had to give up my corporal's 
stripes to my successor, and be only a private soldier ; " But 
courage," said I to myself, "your time will come." 

The Emperor ordered Marshal Lannes to conduct his army 
corps over the great bridge over the Danube, and march them 
forward beyond Essling. The fusileers of the guard, Marshal 
Bessieres, and a park of artillery were in position from early 
morning. The Austi'ians did not perceive them until Lannes 
greeted them with a round of cannon-shot, causing them to 
turn their backs on their capital, and face ou.r army which had 
crossed without their permission. The whole army of Prince 
Charles fell into line in front of us, and firing began from one 
end to the other. More than a hundred thousand men fell 
upon the corps of Marshal Lannes. The guns sent a thunder- 
bolt upon our troops, but they held out to the utmost. The 
Emperor ordered us to leave Schoenbrunn for the Danube 
earl}^ in the morning ; the whole infantry of the guard with 
himself at their head. At eleven o'clock he ordered us to 
cross over, and to throw aside our bear-skin caps. As we 
were in great haste, and were going over the bridge, three 
ranks at a time, we unpacked one another's caps as we marched 
along.^ This operation taking place as we were going over 
the bridge, we threAV all our caps into the Danube, and have 
never worn them since. That was the end of caps for the guard. 

1 They were packed in boxes outside of the knapsacks. 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 175 

We crossed the point of the island, and came to another 
bridge which we went over at a gallop. The foot chasseurs 
crossed first, dashed into the field, and made a " column left 
wheel," instead of a right wheel. This mistaken movement 
could not be rectified, and we had to fall into line of battle at 
once, with our right wing near a branch of the Danube. As 
soon as the fight began a cannon-ball struck the Emperor's 
horse on the hip. At once all shouted, " We will lay down 
our arms, if the Emperor does not go to the rear instantly. " 
He was compelled to recross the smaller bridge, and had a 
rope-ladder made up to the top of a high pine-tree, from 
which height he could watch all the movements of his own 
army and that of the enemy. 

A second cannon-ball struck the drum-sergeant. One of my 
comrades went immediately and took off his chevrons and 
epaulets and brought them to me. I thanked him, and pressed 
his hand. This was only a prelude. To the left of Essling 
the enemy planted fifty pieces of cannon in front of us. The 
fifty pieces thundered upon us without our being able 
to advance a step, or fire a gun. Imagine the agony we 
endured in such a position, for I can never describe it. We 
had only four pieces of cannon in front of us, and two in 
front of the chasseurs, with which to answer fifty. The 
balls fell among our ranks, and cut down our men three 
at a time ; the shells knocked the bear-skin caps twenty feet 
in the air. As soon as one file was cut down, I called out, 
'•' Right dress, close up the ranks ! " And the brave grenadiers 
closed up without a frown, saying to one another as they saw 
the enemy making ready to fire, " That one is for me." — 
" All right, I will get behind you ; that is a good place ; keep 
quiet." 

A ball struck a whole file, and knocked them all three head 
over heels on top of me. I fell to the ground. "Never 
mind," I called out; "close up at once." — "But, sergeant, 
the hilt of your sabre is gone, your cartridge-box is half cut 
off." — " That is no matter ; the battle is not yet over." 

There were no gunners left to work our two pieces. Gen- 
eral Dorseune had them replaced by twelve grenadiers, and 



176 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

bestowed the cross on them. But all those brave fellows 
perished beside their guns. ISTo more horses, no more artil- 
lery-men, no more shells. The carriages were broken to 
pieces, and the timbers scattered over the ground like logs of 
wood. It was impossible to make any more use of them. A 
shell fell and burst near our good general, covering him with 
dirt, but he rose up like the brave soldier that he was, saying, 
"Your general is not hurt. You may depend upon him, he 
will know how to die at his post." He had no horse any 




longer ; two had been killed under him. How grateful the 
country ought to be for such men ! The awful thunder con- 
tinued. A cannon-ball cut down a file of soldiers next to me. 
Something struck me on the arm, and I dropped my gun. I 
thought my arm was cut off. I had no feeling in it. I looked, 
and saw a bit of flesh sticking to my wrist. I thought I had 
broken my arm, but I had not ; it was a piece of the flesh of 
one of my brave comrades, which had been dashed against me 
with such violence that it had adhered to my arm. The lieu- 
tenant came up to me, took hold of my arm, shook it, and the 
piece of flesh fell off. I saw the cloth of my coat. He shook 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 177 

my arm, and said to me, " It is only stunned." Imagine my 
joy when I found I oould move my fingers I The commander 
said to me, " Leave your gun, take your sabre." — "I have 
none ; the cannon-ball cut off the hilt of it." I took my gun 
in my left hand. 

The losses became very heavy. We had to place the guard 
all in one rank so as to keep up the line in front of the enemy. 
As soon as this movement had been made, a litter was brought 
up on our left, borne by grenadiers, who deposited their pre- 
cious burden in our centre. The Emperor, from the top of his 
pine-tree, recognized his favorite, left his post of observation, 
and hastened to receive the last words of Marshal Lannes, 
who had been mortally wounded at the head of his corps. 
The Emperor knelt upon one knee, took him in his arms, and 
had him carried over to the island ; but he did not survive the 
amputation. Thus ended the career of that great general. 
We were all filled with dismay at our great loss. 

Marshal Bessieres was still left to us, and was dismounted 
with all the rest. He came out in front of us. The cannon- 
ading continued. One of our officers was struck by a cannon- 
ball which cut off his leg, and the general granted permission 
to two of the grenadiers to carry him to the island. They 
laid him upon two guns, and were bearing him off, but had 
not taken more than four hundred paces, when a cannon-ball 
killed all three of them. A great misfortune befell us. The 
corps of Marshal Lannes beat a retreat ; one part fell back 
upon us panic-stricken, and covered our line of battle. As 
there was only a single file of us, our grenadiers took them 
by the collar, and put them behind us, saying, "Now you 
need not be afraid." 

Fortunately they all had their arms and cartridges. The 
village of Essling was in our possession, though it had been 
taken and retaken a^ld burnt. The brave fusileers remained 
masters of it the whole day. The soldiers behind our file 
being somewhat restored to presence of mind. Marshal Bes- 
sieres came up to them, and reassured them by saying, " I am 
going to station you as sharp-shooters, and 1 shall be on foot 
just as you will be." 



178 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

Then they all started off with this brave general. He 
then placed them in single file within range of the fifty 
pieces whose fire we had stood since eleven o'clock in the 
morning ; and there they stood, a single line of sharp-shooters 
protecting the file-tiring which had been opened on the Aus- 
trian army. The brave marshal, with his hands behind his 
back, walked up and down the line, silencing for the moment 
their fury against us. This gave us a little breathing-space ; 
but time passes slowly when one is awaiting death without 
the power to defend one's self. The hours seem ages. After 
having lost a fourth of our veterans without having burnt a 
priming, I was no longer at a loss for sergeant's chevrons 
and epaulets ; my grenadiers brought me my pockets full. 
This terrible battle cost us dear. The brave marshal re- 
mained behind his sharp-shooters more than four hours. 
The battle was neither lost nor won. We did not know that 
the bridges over the broad river had been carried away, and 
that our army was crossing the Danube at Vienna. At nine 
o'clock the firing ceased. The Emperor ordered that each of 
us should light his fire, so as to make the enemy think that 
our whole army had crossed over. 

Prince Charles did not know that our bridge had been car- 
ried away, else he would have captured us with little trouble, 
and would not have asked for a truce of three months, which 
was immediately granted, for, to tell the truth, we were in a 
cage : they could have bombarded us on all sides. When we 
had gotten our fires to burning brightly, we were ordered to 
recross to the island on our small bridge, and leave our fires 
burning. We spent the night in getting settled in position 
without any fire, and waited for the daylight. The next 
morning some heavy pieces were brought over in front of us, 
and stationed at the head of our little bridge. To our great 
surprise we saw nothing of our large bridge upon which we 
had crossed the day before. There was no more trace of it 
than of our hats which we had thrown into the Danube. 

On the river in front of Vienna, the mills, which were on 
boats, had been loosened from their moorings, and the wheels 
taken off ; they were filled with stones, and these heavy masses 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 



179 



drifted down the current, and carried off our bridge. This 
sacrifice of their mills blockaded us three days in the island 
without bread. We ate up all the horses which had not died ; 
not one was left. To the prisoners taken that morning we 
gave the heads and entrails. Our officers had nothing left but 
bridles and saddles. It is impossible 
to describe such destitution ; and, in 
addition, the heart-rending shrieks 
which we could hear not far off. 
These came from the 
field-hospital, where M. 
Larrey was making am- 
putations ; it was fright- 
ful to listen to. 

The Emperor notified 
the city of Vienna to col- 




lect all its boats, and bring them down to make his bridge 
again. On the fourth day we were set free from our imprison- 
ment on the island. We recrossed the awful river with joyful 
hearts, but very pale faces. Provisions awaited us at Schoen- 
brunn, where we arrived that night. Everything was in 
readiness to receive us, and our billets for lodgings all made 
out. We had plenty of time to recuperate during the 
three months' truce. Then intrenchments were beofun in the 



180 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

island of Lobau : a hundred thousand men set to work on re- 
doubts and covered roads. It would be impossible to give 
any idea of the quantity of earth thrown up during those 
three months. The Austrians threw up as much more in front 
of us. The Emperor would leave his palace on horseback, 
accompanied by his escort, go to the island of Lobau, and 
mount to the top of his pine-tree ; thence he could see all 
their works, and watch the execution of his OAvn. He would 
return satisfied and happy. He would come out to see us as 
soon as he got back, speak to all his veterans, and walk 
about the courtyard with his hands behind his back. He 
filled up the vacancies in his guard, and, as he had brought 
with him some actors from Paris, he gave a play in the castle. 
The fair ladies of Vienna were invited, and also fifty non- 
commissioned officers. It was a magnificent sight ; but the 
ball-room was too small for so many people. 

My arm having recovered its strength, I worked hard during 
those three months at my writing ; I made great progress. 
My masters expressed themselves quite satisfied with me. 
Not one of the guard put his foot into Vienna, not even the 
Emperor, but he made frequent visits to the island of Lobau 
to watch his great preparations. He had his whole army 
drilled so as to keep in readiness to recommence the campaign. 
AVlien all was ready, he showed a sample of his army to the 
amateurs of Vienna, in a review of a hundred thousand men, 
on the heights to the left of the city. There he sent for our 
Colonel Frederic, and promoted him as general, saying, '' I 
will make you win your epaulets." All the corps received 
orders to start for the island of Lobau on the 5th of July. 
Fortunately Prince Eugene, with the army of Italy, arrived in 
time to cross the Danube on the 6th of July, at ten o'clock in 
the morning. The whole army was assembled in the plain. 

The Emperor had ordered rafts to be made, large enough to 
carry two hundred men each, who Avere to take possession of 
an island occupied by the Austrians, which interfered with 
his movements : he could not pass Avithout being seen by the 
Austrian army. Everything was read}^ ; the light-horsemen 
and the grenadiers on the rafts with General Frederic. They 



FIFTH NOTE-BOOK. 181 

were sent out precisely as the hour of midnight sounded, so as 
to keep to the agreement, for the truce ended on the 6th of 
July. The rain was falling in torrents. The Austrian soldiers 
went into their quarters for shelter. Our rafts landed cross- 
wise on the sand. The water being only up to our calves, we 
took the island without firing a gun ; all the Austrians were 
taken prisoners, and then the enemy could not see our move- 
ments. Two thousand sappers were sent with the engineers to 
make a road for the pontoon-bridges and artillery. The trees 
which happened to be in the way fell under axes and saws. 
By daylight we were three leagues beyond the enemy's in- 
trenchments and our own without the enemy's even suspecting 
it. Within a quarter of an hour three bridges were built, and 
at ten o'clock in the morning a hundred thousand men had 
crossed over into the plain of Wagram. At noon our whole 
army was in line of battle with seven hundred pieces of can- 
non in battery. The Austrians had quite as many. We could 
not hear ourselves speak. 

It was amusing to see us facing Vienna, and the Austrians 
with their backs turned on their capital. It must be said for 
their credit that they fought with determination. The Em- 
peror was informed that the great battery of his guard would 
have to be replaced, as the gunners were all killed. " What ! " 
said he, " if I relieve the artillery of my guard, the enemy 
will perceive it, and redouble their efforts to break through my 
centre. Go at once ; let the grenadiers volunteer to serve the 
pieces." Twenty men from each company started off imme- 
diately. It was necessary to make a selection, for all wanted 
to go. No non-commissioned officers were accepted, only 
grenadiers and corporals. Off they started to man a bat- 
tery of fifty pieces. As soon as they reached their position, 
the firing began. The Emperor took snuff, and walked up 
and down in front of us. Meanwhile Marshal Davout was 
seizing the heights, and driving the enemy back upon us as he 
marched across the great table-land so as to cut off their road 
to Olmiitz. The Emperor, seeing the marshal in front of him, 
lost no time in ordering all the cuirassiers in a body to go for- 
ward, and break through their centre. The whole body started 



182 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

together, and passed in front of us. The earth shook under our 
feet. They brought back with them fifty pieces of cannon, all 
harnessed iip, and some prisoners. Prince de Beauharnais 
came galloping up to the Emperor to tell him that the victory 
was assured. He embraced his son. 

That night four grenadiers brought in the colonel who had 
commanded the fifty pieces, to which tlie Emperor had sent 
his " grumblers." This brave officer had been wounded about 
eleven o'clock. They were carrying him to the rear of his 
battery. '•' No," said he, " take me back to my post ; that is 
my place ; " and he commanded sitting down. 

The guard formed a square, and the Emperor slept in the 
middle of it. He had all the wounded got together, and carried 
on to Vienna. The next day we found thirty cannon-balls 
which had fallen in one spot. It is impossible to give any 
idea of such a battle. On the 23d all the columns started 
out early in the morning. The Austrians had left, after suffer- 
ing great loss ; they were compelled to come and ask for peace 
on the height of Olmiitz where the Em?peror had erected his 
magnificent tent. The firing ceased on all sides. We started 
for Schoenbrunn, and there negotiations for peace were entered 
upon. The armies remained in sight of each other while the 
Emperor arranged matters. 





SIXTH KOTE-BOOK. 



RE-ENTBANCE INTO FRANCE. THE FESTIVITIES OF THE IM- 
PERIAL MARRIAGE. 1 DO THE DUTIES OF SERGEANT-IN- 
STRUCTOR, MESS-CHIEF, AND BAGGAGE-MASTER. 

We left Schoenbrunn for the second time. When we came 
to the Confederation of the Rhine, we were received as though 
it had been our own country. In the large towns of France 
the people came out to meet us. We were received most cor- 
dially at our lodgings. At the gates of Paris we found a vast 
multitude assembled, and we could scarcely pass along, the 
crowd pressed so closely upon us. We were immediately con- 
ducted to the Champs-Elysees to partake of a cold collation 
prepared for us by the city of Paris. The time was pressing. 
We had to eat and drink standing, and leave at once for Cour- 
bevoie. The good city of Paris gave us another collation 
under the galleries of the Place Royale, and a comedy at the 
Porte St. Martin. Triumphal arches were erected. The 
people of Paris were wild with joy at seeing us again. Un- 
happily there were many missing at the roll-call. A fourth 
of us had been left on the battle-fields of Essling and 
Wagram. But no one was better pleased than I to come 
back to Paris with my sergeant's chevrons, and entitled to 
carry a sword and cane, and wear silk stockings in summer. 



184 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I was, however, mucli grieved over one thing : I had no calves 
to my legs. I had to resort to false calves, and this worried 
me extremely. 

After a fortnight's rest in the fine barracks of Courbevoie, 
all in new clothes, we were reviewed by the Emperor at the 
Tuileries. Preparations were being made for the burial of 
Marshal Lannes. A hundred thousand men formed the funeral 
cortege of this celebrated warrior, which started from the 
Gros Caillou to go to the Pantheon. I was one of the non- 
commissioned officers who bore the bier. Sixteen of us car- 
ried it down eight or ten steps on the left side of the wing of 
the Pantheon, and there placed it on some trestles. The 
whole army marched in front of the remains of this brave 
soldier. The procession was passing till midnight. 

I resumed my duties as non-commissioned officer. I applied 
myself earnestly to my writing, and one day, being on guard 
at St. Cloud, I made out a report of my fifty grenadiers, 
with all the names well written, and carried it myself to 
M. Belcourt, who was pleased with the neatness of my report, 
and said to me, " Go on ; you are all right." I took the great- 
t^fXC-^ 6st pains to study my theory^ I surpassed my comrades in 
the tone of command, and was considered to have the strong- 
est voice. I was very proud of my rank of sergeant and my 
forty-three sous a day. Having some visits Avhich I was 
obliged to make, I proceeded to get myself up. I had to 
have silk stockings, if I wore my sword. I have already said 
that I had passed at St. Malo.-' I had no calves to my legs, 
so I had to get up some false ones. I went to the Palais- 
Royal to buy some. I found a pair to suit me, for which I 
paid eighteen francs, and I got up a good-looking pair of legs, 
with some fine stockings over the false calves and the silk 
ones on top of them. I made my visits, and was overwhelmed 
with compliments upon my appearance. I returned to the 
barracks at nine o'clock in the evening, delighted with my day, 
and found a letter from my captain, Renard, inviting me to 
dine with him on Sunday, without fail, at five o'clock sharp, 
and saying that his wife and daughter wished to thank me 

' An allusion to the well-known song, Bon voyar/e, monsieur DumoUet, etc. 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 185 

for having put my captain to bed in a cask on the evening 
before the battle of Austerlitz. 

I accepted this invitation. I met some distinguished mili- 
tary men and citizens and ladies of high degree.-^ I felt 
rather uncomfortable among my superiors in rank, all deco- 
rated, and in company of such fine ladies, all dressed up in 
jjlumes. I felt very small indeed in that splendid hall, as I 
waited for the dinner to be announced. My captain came to 
my relief, presented me to his wife, some other ladies, and 
some of his friends. I no longer felt alone ; but I was very 
bashful, and would have preferred my mess-table to this 
grand dinner. We went into the dining-hall, where I was 
seated between two beautiful ladies, and they paid me much 
attention, and soon put me at my ease. By the time the 
second course was served, every face at the table was beaming 
with pleasure, and the introduction of the champagne put a 
finishing stroke to the gayety. My officers were obliged to 
begin to tell stories of their campaigns. 

The ladies who sat beside me insisted that I should relate 
my history. " I beg that you will exQuse me ; my officers 
know it all." — " Well," said the captain, " I will tell it for 
him. You see that he is a good soldier. He was the first one 
who received the decoration at the Invalides. He saved us 
from dying of hunger in Poland, by finding out all the hid- 
ing-places of the Poles. In fact, ladies, I should have been 
dead but for him." I wa^ greatly confused at this testimonial 
from my captain, and overwhelmed by so much attention from 
everybody. The blood mounted to my face. I had a white 
handkerchief, which I continually pulled out of my pocket to 
wipe off the perspiration. My napkin was very fine, and, by 
mistake, I wiped my face with it, and put it also into my 
pocket. At the hour when I was obliged to return to my bar- 
racks, I got up to go. The captain said to me, "Must you 
go ? " — " Yes, captain ; I have to stand guard to-morrow." — 
''But you will come back to-morrow ?" — " Oh, no, I cannot ; 
I shall be on guard." — "But you are carrying off your 
napkin." 

1 We must not forget that it is a sergeant who is speaking. 



186 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



Putting my hand in my poclvot, I found my napkin and my 
handkerchief. As I handed tlie napkin to my captain, I said, 
''I thought I was still in the enemy's country, you see. 
There, if you don't steal something, it is thought that you 
have shown neglect." — '• All right," said he, " stay here ; I will 
send my servant to the barracks, and you shall sjjend the 
evening with us." Then, pointing to his daughter, " There is 
3'our accuser. She said to me, 'Papa, he is carrying off his 

napkin ; but let him do 
it.' " — "Ah, how happy 
I am that your daugh- 
ter should have noticed 
me." 

I went back to my 
studies in writing and 
tactics, working unceas- 
ingly for the next six 
months, and only leav- 
ing my barracks to go 
to stand my guard (and 
always with my J^cole 
de Bataillon in my 
pocket, so as to learn 
the manoeuvres belong- 
ing to my rank). I 
overcame all difficulties 
''"^ in the use of arms. The 
Emperor issued an or- 
der that the non-commissioned ofiicers and corporals should 
be drilled alone with the aid of poles to represent the sections. 
To form a platoon, the platoon-leader took hold of both ends 
of the pole 5 to break, the corporal again took hold of the 
end of the pole. This was called the "pole-drill ;" it Avas a 
means of resting the "grumblers." M. Belcourt commanded 
us, and we made rapid progress as we wallced rapidly up 
and down the fine courtyard of the barracks of Courbevoie. 
With a hundred men we went through all the principal 
manoeuvres of a whole regiment. 





I went back to my studies in writing and tactics, working unceasingly 
for the next six montlis." — Page 186. 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 187 

The Emperor ordered us to form a square ; after our going 
through, this manoeuvre for an hour he was quite satisfied, 
and ordered that we should, in the future, only go through it 
once a week. All the sergeants and corporals had to take 
command. When my turn came, I was delighted to be able 
to show my superiors the progress I had made. They watched 
me closely to see if I would make any mistake. While we 
Avere resting, all my comrades congratulated me, and my supe- 
riors showed that they were very well pleased with me. But 
though the Emperor was pleased with us, we were not pleased 
with him. A report was circulated among the guard that he 
was about to divorce his wife, and marry an Austrian princess 
to make up for the second war with the Emperor of Austria, 
and that he was anxious to have an heir to the throne. In 
order to do this, he would be obliged to send away this 
accomplished woman, and take a foreigner, who would be able 
to bring about a general peace. The Emperor held grand 
reviews to distract him from his troubles. We were told that 
Prince Berthier was going to Vienna to carry the portrait of 
our Emperor to the princess, and ask for her hand. 

Great preparations were made for the reception of this new 
Empress. On the 15th her whole family accompanied her a 
long way out of Vienna. She showed signs of regret at leav- 
ing her dog and her parrot, and orders were issued at once to 
have them sent to St. Cloud, where, on her arrival, she was 
surprised to find her bird-cage and birds, her dog, who greeted 
his mistress, and her parrot, who called her by name. 

Our first battalion was ordered to await the arrival of the 
Emperor at St. Cloud. The couriers arrived, and we were put 
under arms. We saw that splendid carriage drawn by eight 
horses, and the Emperor seated beside his betrothed. How 
happy he looked ! They went slowly on to St. Cloud, and we 
had time to see all the fine equipages pass. The civil mar- 
riage took place at St. Cloud, and the next day they left there 
to make their entrance into the capital. We were ordered to 
be present at the grand ceremony of the religious marriage, 
which was celebrated on the 5th of April, in the chapel of the 
Louvre. It is impossible to give any idea of all the grand prep- 



188 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

arations. In the great gallery of the Louvre, leading from the 
old Louvre to the chapel which is at the end of the pavilion 
of the Tuileries on the side next the Pont-Eoyal (the space is 
immense), there were three rows of benches to seat ladies and 
gentlemen. In the fourth row were fifty non-commissioned, 
decorated officers placed at certain distances from each other 
in iron gratings, so as not to be pushed aside by any one. 
General Dorsenne commanded us. When he had stationed us 




all, he told the ladies that we were to 
serve as their knights, and have re- 
freshments brought to them. We had 
to be introduced. We each had to 
take charge of twenty-four on each 
side of us (forty-eight to each non- 
commissioned officer), and attend to all their wants. Large 
niches had been made in the thick wall to hold ninety-six 
canteens of all sorts of pleasant refreshments. These little 
itinerant cafes did a good business. 

The dresses of the ladies were as follows : Low in the 
neck ; behind, almost down to the middle of their backs, and 
in front showing half of their breasts ; their shoulders and 
arms bare. And such necklaces and bracelets and ear-rinsrs ! 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 189 

They were covered "witli rubies and pearls and diamonds. 
Here could be seen all sorts of skins : oily skins, skins like 
mulattoes, yellow skins, and skins like satin. The old women 
carried salt-boxes ^ containing a supply of perfumes. I must 
say that I had never before seen the ladies of Paris, half 
naked, so near. I did not like it. 

The men were dressed in French fashion, all wea,ring the 
same costume : black coat, short breeches, steel buttons cut 
in the shape of a diamond. The trimming of their coats cost 
eighteen hundred francs. They could not present themselves 
at court without tliis costume. Cabs being forbidden that 
day, it is impossible to imagine the number of splendid equi- 
pages in front of the Tuileries. The magnificent procession 
started from the chateau, and moved on to the Louvre, then 
mounted the grand stairway of the Louvre, and entered the 
chapel of the Tuileries. The ceremony was very imposing. The 
whole assembly remained standing, and the most solemn 
silence prevailed. The procession moved slowly. As soon as it 
had passed by. General Dorsenne called us together, marched 
us into the chapel, and formed us into a circle. We saw the 
Emperor on the right, kneeling upon a cushion decorated with 
bees, and his wife kneeling beside him to receive the benedic- 
tion. After having placed the crown on his own head and on 
that of his wife, he rose, and sat down with her on a lounge. 
Then the celebration of mass was begun, chanted by the Poj)e. 

The general made a sign to us to go out and return to our 
posts, and there we saw the procession return. The new 
Empress looked beautiful with her splendid diadem. The 
wives of our marshals carried the train of her robe, which 
dragged about eight or ten feet upon the ground. She ought 
to have been proud to have such maids of honor in her suite. 
But it must be said that she was a beautiful sultana, that the 
Emperor looked very well pleased, and that her figure was 
graceful. That was a high day for her, but not so at Mal- 
maison. 

All the old guard was under arms to protect the cortege, 
and we were all excessively hungry. We each received 

1 Coignet means the flask of salts, which it was then the fashion to smelL 



190 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

twenty-five sous and a litre of wine. After the festivities 
were over, the Emperor went away with Maria Louisa. On 
the 1st of June they re-entered Paris. The city gave them a 
reception and a splendid banquet at the Hotel de Ville. I 
was put on duty in command of a squad of twenty men inside 
the building, in front of the beautiful horseshoe-shaped table, 
and my twenty grenadiers, with arms grounded, in sight of 
this banquet of cold meats, served in dishes of solid gold. 
Around the horseshoe table were placed arm-chairs ; the 
largest one in the middle was for the Emperor. The royal 
party was announced. The general came to station me and 
give me his orders. 

Theu the master of ceremonies announced, "The Emperor!" 
and he entered followed by his wife and five other crowned 
heads. I ordered carry and present arms ; then I was ordered 
to make them ground arms. I stood in front of my squad, 
facing the Emperor. He seated himself at the table, and made 
a sign to the others to take their places on each side of him. 
When the crowned heads were seated, the table was cleared ; 
every dish was taken up, and carried off. The carvers did 
their work in a side room. Behind each king and queen there 
were three footmen about a step from one another. There 
were others who held communication with the carvers, and 
passed the plates, without turning more than half-way round 
to get them. When a plate came within reach of a sovereign, 
the head footman presented it to him, and, if the sovereign 
shook his head, the plate disappeared; another plate was 
brought immediately. If the head did not move, the footman 
placed the plate in front of his master. How well those 
meats Avere carved ! 

Each one took his piece of bread, broke it, and bit it in the 
same manner, making no use whatever of his knife, and, after 
each mouthfvil, wiped his mouth with a napkin ; the napkin 
then disappeared, and the footman slipped in another. Con- 
sequently, in this way, there was a pile of napkins behind each 
chair which had only been used once. 

Not a word was spoken. Each person had a flagon of wine 
and water, and no one poured out wine for his neighbor. 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 191 

They ate their bread, and poured out something to drink to 
suit themselves. They either accepted or refused by a shake 
of the head. Ko one was permitted to speak except when 
addressed by the sovereign master. That may be imposing, 
but it is not at all jolly. 

The Emperor rose. I made my grenadiers carry and present 
arms, and then they all passed into the great hall. I remained 
standing near the splendid table. The general came up to me, 
and took me by the arm : " Sergeant, come with us, I want 
you to drink some of the Emperor's wine, and, as we go by, I 
will have some wine given to your twenty men. Stay here. 
I will go and tell your squad to have patience, and they shall 
be refreshed in their turn." Those two glasses of wine did 
me good, and my grenadiers each had a half-litre of it. How 
proud we were at having drunk the Emperor's wine ! 

After a few days of repose, the old guard gave a brilliant 
reception to the Emperor in the Champ de Mars. The whole 
court was present. We went through the manoeuvres for 
their benefit, and, in the evening, by torchlight, we shot off 
blank cartridges of all colors. After firing into the air by 
platoon and battalion, we formed a square in front of the 
balcony of the Ecole Militaire, where the court was assembled 
to look at us. At the given signal, this immense square began 
to fire by file into the air. Never were such baskets of flow- 
ers seen before. The guard was crowned with stars. Every- 
body clapped their hands. I must say, it was a magnificent 
sight. 

The Emperor gave a splendid ball ; he opened it himself 
with Maria Louisa. There never was seen a better formed 
man. He really was a perfect model : his hands and feet 
were unequalled for beauty. Maria Louisa was a first-rate 
billiard-player. She beat all the men ; but she was not afraid 
to stretch herself out across the billiard-table, as the men did, 
when she wanted to make a stroke. I was always on the 
watch to get a chance to see her. She was frequently 
applauded. Duty at St. Cloud was irksome to us. We had to 
go back and forth from Courbevoie to St. Cloud, and the 
chasseurs came from Rueil to relieve us. We were well fed, 



192 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

however, and the sergeant had a table to himself. We had 
soup, bouillon, good chicken-salad, and a bottle of wine. The 
officer ate with the officers of the household. 

In the month of September, 1810, great preparations were 
made to go to Fontainebleau. The hunting season had come, 
and the first battalion, to which I belonged, was ordered to 
set out for duty there. M. Belcourt, the adjutant-major, fol- 
lowed the battalion. We were put into barracks, and the 
whole court came out in splendid hunting carriages. There 
were four open carriages with horses all alike, and a relay of 
horses of another color. It was a magnificent sight. M. Belcourt 
was ordered to take out for the hunt twelve non-commissioned 
officers and corjDorals, who should be under the direction of a 
game-keeper, and stationed by fours in certain appointed 
places. On arriving at the rendezvous, we were stationed at 
our posts in a beautiful circle, well gravelled, and into which 
several walks led. There was here a beautiful tent with a 
table ready served, and footmen standing around it. The whole 
court sat down to the table before going on the hunt. 

That day hoops were brought out (with a man inside of each 
hoop) with falcons perched all around on them. Maria Louisa 
took one of these birds, and sent it out on the first game that 
came in sight. The bird swooped down upon it like light- 
ning, and brought it to Maria Louisa. This hunt, a very 
entertaining one, lasted a whole hour : then the open car- 
riages started off at a gallop for a place where the peasants 
were to whip the bushes with poles, in a large garden filled 
with rabbits which could not get out. The Emperor had a 
great many guns ready loaded ; he gave the signal, and the 
peasants beat the bushes, and crowds of them jumped out. Then 
the Emperor began to shoot. He fired rapid shots, one after 
the other. Then he said to his aides-de-camp, " Come, gentle- 
men, it is your turn now ! Take some guns, and amuse your- 
selves." And soon the ground was covered with victims. 
He had the guards called up, and said to our adjutant-major, 
"Have this game picked up, and give a rabbit to each peasant, 
and four to each of the guard. Put the rest in the wagon, and 
have them distributed to my old ' grumblers ' (there was a 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 



193 



wagon full of them). To-morrow you shall lead them on a wild- 
boar hunt ; you shall have provisions to take with you, and 
spend the whole day in the forest." The adjutant-major 
gave his orders, and we all started off. This Avas the first 
day's hunt, and the whole battalion had rabbit to eat. 

The next day four wagons arrived : one for the provisions, 
two for the great Russian dogs, and one in which to put the 
boars alive. With the huntsmen, the grooms for the dogs 




and the game-keepers, there were fifty of us who started out, 
besides our adjutant-major. When we came near to the place 
where this herd of wild boars had their lair, we dismissed 
the carriages, and coupled up the dogs. There was a physi- 
cian along, too, to attend to the dogs which should be wounded 
in the terrible fight in which they were about to engage. 
"First," said the huntsmen, "we must eat ; we shall not have 
time for it later." And a footman was there, with his napkin 
on his arm, to wait upon the adjutant-major and the physician. 



194 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

We all made a hearty dinner, and, as soon as we had finished, 
we set out for the field of battle. And the footmen each led 
two of those great long dogs. 

They roused up some boars, and six dogs started off after 
each furious animal. Three boars were soon down, and unable 
to move. Two dogs took each boar by the ears, and locked 
themselves together around his body, holding him so tightly 
that he could not move. Then the guards came up with a gag, 
and put a strong bit into his mouth before he could defend him- 
self. His four feet were tied together with a slip-knot, and the 
dogs were unmuzzled, and started off again upon the herd, fol- 
lowed by the grooms who had charge of them. The prisoners 
were taken to the wagons ; the door at the back of the wagons 
was opened ; the boars' trammels were taken off, and they fell 
down into the deep wagons. 

We captured the whole herd of fourteen that day, and the 
wagon was full. Two of our dogs were wounded by blows of 
their tusks. We were very hungry after these hunts in the 
depths of the forest. The Emperor was df lighted with such 
a hunt. He had an enclosure prepared on the road to Paris, 
where these animals were kept alive. It was round, and the 
walls high and solid. The wagon was backed up to a door 
cut in the wall, and the furious animals were thus dropped 
into the enclosure. This was our second hunt, and it lasted 
a fortnight. We ca^itured fifty boars and two wolves alive. 

Inside of this enclosure, an amphitheatre had been con- 
structed upon piling, and arm-chairs were placed all round it, 
sufficient in number to seat the whole court. A slight descent 
brought one to the middle of the enclosure, under a beautiful 
tent. Sentinels Avere stationed to prevent any one's approach- 
ing. The court arrived at two o'clock. They had to climb 
up in the top of the pine-trees to see the angry creatures leap 
upon the palisades. The Emperor fired first. He did not fire 
at any of the wolves ; they were left for the last, and leaped 
up quite to the top of the palisades. The Emperor allowed 
the chief officers of his court to finish up the game, and all 
the boars were divided among his guard. We had a fine feast, 
and he reserved three of the largest for himself. 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 195 

Afterwards he gave orders to his guards to go and find out 
the number of the stags, and the age of each, and report them 
to him. At the end of two days the number had been ascer- 
tained. The ages were told by their feet. The day before 
this great hunt, he sent out some of the guard and the dog 
grooms, who had in charge two big bloodhounds in leashes, 
which were to scent stag number one. The haunt of this 
animal was discovered by the tracks he had made during the 
night. The guard then took hold of the bloodhound, and 
made it smell the footprints of the stag which was to be 
hunted the next day. This animal, held in a leash, was led 
slowly forward by the guardsman, and, at a short distance 
from the haunt, he raised his forepaw in the air as if to 
spring upon his prey ; but the guardsman held him back. All 
this was done without any noise. The situation of the haunt 
was marked, and a report of it made to the Emperor, as the 
rendezvous for the court. Orders were issued for open car- 
riages and relays of horses. There were fifty-two dogs in four 
relays, thirteen to each relay, and the bloodhound, which was 
the leader of the whole pack. One dog in each pack of 
thirteen led the other twelve. As soon as the bloodhound 
started a stag, this leader followed his footprints, and never 
turned aside from them ; and the twelve other dogs marched 
in line of battle on each side of him. 

The Emperor ordered M. Belcourt to take out twenty-four 
men (sergeants and corporals), and station them at the three 
points designated for the relays of carriages. Before begin- 
ning the hunt, the whole court sat down to a table served in 
a nicely gravelled piece of ground, and, after the banquet was 
over, the open carriages came up. Every one mounted on 
horseback, and the stag started. The Emperor galloped off 
to the place where the stag would pass, followed by musket- 
bearers carrying guns. There he waited for the stag to pass, 
and, if he missed it, he started off again, like lightning, for 
another crossing-point. 

After the second relay departed, in a little Avhile, the hunt 
was carried on at a great distance from us. We stood silently 
at our posts. The major said to me, "You had better go 



196 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

through the drill, and let out your voice. Order them to form 
a square by division as you march, and do so with the fewest 
manoeuvres." I began, " Form a square on the second 
division as you are marching : first division, by the left 
flank and by right file ; third division, by the right flank 
and by left file ; fourth division, by the left flank by left 
file ! Quick time ! Second division, slow time ! " I had 
made a mistake which I could not repair, and the major 
said to me, " You are in too much of a hurry ; you are too 
much excited. Order your square to deploy. JS'ow, do not 
hurry ! " But the Emperor had heard me from the spot where 
he was waiting for the deer; he did not forget one of my 
blunders. He shot the stag, and the hunting horns sounded 
a rally. All the open carriages came up to the rendezvous. 
The Emperor, well pleased, had dismounted, and was stand- 
ing beside the splendid stag. When the whole court had 
gathered together, he had us called up, and said to our major, 
" Who was that commanding the drill in the forest ? Send 
him here; I want to see him." 

The major ordered me to leave the ranks, and presented 
me. " Was it you, then," said he, " who were making the 
forest resound ? You command very well, but you made a 
mistake." — "Yes, sire, I forgot 'quick time.'" — "That is 
right. Pay attention next time." The major said to him, 
"He beat his head with his fist." The Emperor replied, 
"Make him the instructor of two regiments. Let him be 
assisted by two well-drilled corporals. You will take fifty of 
the oldest recruits, and drill them twice a day ; push them 
forward in tactics, and, in two months, I will see them. See 
that they are strong and capable of serving ■ as officers." M. 
Belcourt came up to us : " Well, he has set us a task. We 
shall be confined for two months ; but there is no need to 
throw yourself to the devil ; you will come out all right in the 
end. Are you satisfied ? " said he. — - " I shall always remem- 
ber the forest of Fontainebleau." 

That evening, the quarry of the stag was held by torch- 
light in the court of honor, which was furnished with fine 
balconies, from which all the court looked on. It was a 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 



197 



magnificent sight, that pack of two hundred dogs in line of 
battle behind a row of grooms, who held them, whip in hand. 
At the given signal, the man tore the skin from the stag ; the 
horns sounded the pillage, and they all sprang upon their 
l^rey. Those two hundred famished creatures formed a 
mound, they were so piled up on one another. 

At the end of a fortnight the hunts were over, the court 
returned to Paris, and we to Courbevoie. The barracks con- 
tained three battalions. Each month a battalion took its turn 



•^2, /^- 




to go on duty in Paris. And hard duty it was : eight hours 
on guard, two hours on patrol, and the grand rounds at night. 
The adjutant-major reported to General Dorsenne that the 
Emperor had appointed me instructor of two regiments of 
grenadiers, and I entered upon the duties at once. But this 
was not all. In the mornings those under arrest had to take 
brooms and sweep out the gutters, and then wash them down, 
and, worst of all, they were obliged to wash out the privies. 
As there was a bed of sand near the grating, if I had to punish 
many men, I made them haul sand, and they liked it better 
than going on drill. I went out with twenty or thirty of my 



198 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

men, and put tliem to work. Some dug up the sand, some 
rolled the wheelbarrows, others the tumbrel-carts, and so all 
the sand was carried into the courtyard. All this was done 
without a murmur. And even if I set them to pulling up 
grass, they grumbled a little, but they did it. I varied their 
punishments as much as I could. Those veterans Avere 
obedient enough considering they were men who were being 
turned out of the regiments, from the ranks of sergeant and 
even sergeant-major, and returned to the rank of simple grena- 
dier. I had great trouble in managing some of the hard 
heads ; but they would finally yield. I had the knack of 
controlling. All this took place within sight of the officers 
of the week, and I was firmly upheld by the two adjutants- 
major, who approved of strict discipline. It was in front of 
the officers' pavilion, and they could see all their movements. 
They had their boarding-house in our barracks, and passed 
from that into their garden. They sent for me to show me 
the plan of a large pleasure-ground, which they wanted to 
have prepared by the men under arrest. •' We will give each 
of them," said those gentlemen, "a bottle of wine, if you will 
undertake to direct them." — " I will do so, very gladly." — 
'' All right. We will go and draw a line on the terrace, and 
mark the places for some holes, where we wish to plant some 
acacias, forming two quincunxes in front of the barracks, and 
one on each side of the grating. Go call the roll of your 
prisoners, and tell them to be ready for this to-morrow." 

After roll-call, I said to them, '' You are not to drill any 
more; you are to plant trees to give you shade." — "Hurrah 
for our sergeant ! that will be fun." — '' You will not get tired. 
I will put four of you to dig each hole, and you shall have two 
hours to do it." — " We are satisfied." — " Go and rest; at six 
o'clock there will be a roll-call for the prisoners. One-half of 
you will do the sweeping, and the others will dig the holes." 

The officers ordered a whole tun of Suresnes wine, which 
did not cost them ten cents a bottle, and gave a bottle of it to 
each man. All went right forward, the holes and the groups 
of trees ; and the beautiful plantation of eight thousand seven 
hundred trees and shrubs was set out by the men under arrest. 




" The Marshal said to the maid-of-honor, 'Give tlie prince to this ser- 
geant.'" — Page 201. 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 199 

It was complimented by my officers, and tliey appointed me 
to take charge of the non-commissioned officers' boarding- 
house. This was a laborious task, to see that the meals of 
fifty-four non-commissioned officers were well prepared and 
served. I was paid in advance. This brought me the sum of 
forty-five francs seventy centimes a day. The extras super- 
added each day were : first, bread (8fr. 10c.) ; wine (8fr. 10c.) ; 
dishes furnished from outside of the refectory (3fr.) ; wood 
(Ifr.). On Sunday we went to Paris ; this made 21fr. 20c. in 
addition to the 45fr. 70c., making 66fr. 90c. which I had to 
expend every day. I did it all, however, and they were 
pleased. At the end of a month, I showed my expenditures 
to the sergeant-major. "Why," said he, "you must be in debt." 
— " Xo, indeed, 1 have an extra allowance of 21fr. 20c. a day, 
Avhich, added to my 45fr. 70c., makes 66fr. 90c." — "But what 
do you get ? " — " I ? I have 64fr. 50c. a month. That is 
enough. With the extras for three days, I pay my head man 
and two assistants ; so don't worry, the boarding-house will 
get along." 

The sergeants said at dinner, "You must be prompt in 
bringing on our meals. Give each of us a bottle of wine ; the 
extras will be yours." — " Be prompt in seating yourselves 
at the table, four at a time. You shall be served at the 
appointed hour sharp, and I will see that your meals are well 
served." 

The council (of administration) placed at my disposal a 
pleasure carriage and a soldier belonging to the train, so that 
I might send to Paris for provisions, and also four men for 
especial duty, and a corporal for the company. At two o'clock 
in the morning I went with this detachment to Paris, carrying 
a memorandum from my chief cook, and the purchases for the 
week were considerable. I paid five francs for the break- 
fast for my four men, and they were satisfied. At nine 
o'clock and at four I had to be on hand to preside over the 
meals. On Sunday there was an inspection of the refectory 
by the colonel or the general. The covers were laid with 
clean white napkins, and I received the commendation of my 
officers and even of General Dorsenne, before whom every 
one in the barracks trembled. 



200 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I have already said that, when this strict man went through 
our rooms, he passed his finger along the bread-shelves. If 
he found a speck of dust, the corporal, or the head man in 
charge of the rooms, was put under arrest for four days. He 
also ran his hand under our beds. And in our trunks he was 
never to find any soiled linen. He was a model in his own 
dress ; he even rivalled Murat. 

I was always ready to receive him, — always on the lookout, 
and never surprised. Once, however, I just missed receiving 
a severe scolding. We had saved up something on the food for 
the week, and it had been decided that we would buy some 
brandy with the amount saved. Well, in order that General 
Dorsenne's attention should not be attracted to the entry, I 
put it down in my account as " vegetable sundries," so much. 
The indefatigable general happened to light upon that very 
entry. '' What is this ? " he asked. " Vegetable sundries," 
I stammered, and finally acknowledged our peccadillo. At 
first he tried to be angry; bat, seeing my confusion, and 
realizing our little strategy, he began to laugh. " This time," 
said he, "I pardon you; but I do not approve of your econo- 
mizing on food in order to buy liquors." 

I had a great deal to do : to exercise the prisoners, drill 
fifty recruits, and carry on my refectory. Every hour was 
occupied. By being very industrious, I proved myself worthy 
of my captain's good opinion. I can truly say that I owe to 
him whatever I may have won in the field of honor. Thus 
ended the year 1810. 

In 1811 we had cause for great rejoicing. On the 20th of 
March a courier came to our barracks to announce the safe 
delivery of our Empress, and said that the cannons were 
about to fire. We were all excitement. As the first reports 
sounded from the Invalides, we counted in silence, but when 
we heard the twenty-second and twenty-third report, we 
leaped for joy, and all shouted at once, '-'Long live the 
Emperor ! " The King of Rome was baptized on the 9th of 
June. We had holiday and fireworks. This darling child 
was always accompanied by the governor of the palace, when- 
ever he went out to take the air, with his handsome nurse, and 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 201 

a lady who carried him. One day when I was at the palace 
of St. Cloud, Marshal Duroc, who was with me, signalled to me 
to approach, and this dear child held out his little hands for 
my plume. I stooped, and he began to pull at my plumes. 
The marshal said, " Let him do it." The child laughed with 
delight ; but my plume was sacrificed. I looked a little upset. 
The marshal said to me, " Give it to him. I will give you 
another." The maid of honor and the nurse were much 
amused. The marshal said to the maid of honor, " Give the 
prince to this sergeant, and let him take him in his arms." 
Good Lord ! how eagerly I stretched out my arms to receive 
that precious burden ! Every one surrounded me. " Well," 
said M. Duroc to me, " is he heavy ? " — " Yes, general." — 
" Come, walk him about; you are strong enough to carry him." 
I Avalked about with him awhile on the terrace. The child 
pulled away at my plumes, and paid no attention to me. His 
robes hung down very low, and I was afraid of stumbling ; 
but I was proud to carry such a baby. I handed him back to 
the maid of honor, who thanked me, and the marshal said 
to me, ''Come to my office an hour later." Accordingly, I 
appeared before the marshal, who gave me an order upon a 
merchant for a handsome plume. " Is this the only one you 
have ? " said he. " Yes, general." — "I will give you an 
order for two." — "Thank you, generaL" — "You can go, my 
brave fellow ; now you will have one for Sundays." 

Meeting some of my officers, they said to me, "Where is 
your plume ? " — " The King of Rome took it away from me." 
— " Oh ! you are joking." — " See, I have an order from Mar- 
shal Duroc. Instead of only one plume, I shall have two, 
and I have held the King of Rome in my arms for nearly a 
quarter of an hour ; he tore up my plume." — " Happy 
mortal ! " said they ; " such incidents are never to be forgotten." 
I never saw the child again. It was the fault of politics, 
which cut him down in his youth. 

All the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine were 
assembled at Paris, and Prince Charles was godfather to the 
little Napoleon. The Emperor held a review for them after 
his own fashion in the Place du Carrousel. The regiments 



202 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

of infantry came up through the Eue de Rivoli, and formed 
their line on the square, in front of the Hotel Cambaceres. 
The infantry of the guard was in two ranks in front of the 
Palace of the Tuileries. The Emperor came down the steps 
at noon, mounted his horse, reviewed his guard, and, returning, 
took his stand beside the sun-dial. He called our adjutant- 
major to him, and said, "Have you a non-commissioned officer 
whose voice is strong enough to repeat my commands ? Mou- 
ton cannot repeat." — " Yes, sire." — " Send him here, and 
let him repeat word for word after me." M. Belcourt sent 
me to him. The general, the colonel, and the officers of the 
battalion all said to me, " Do not make a mistake. Try not 
to remember that it is the Emperor who gives command, and, 
above all, have self-possession." 

M. Belcourt presented me. " Sire, here is the sergeant who 
commands best." — " Stand here on my left, and repeat my 
commands." The task was not a difficult one. I acquitted 
myself as well as possible. At each command from the 
Emperor, I turned round to repeat, and then turned round 
again, facing the Emperor, to receive another command. All 
the strangers on the balcony were watching me. They saw 
a non-commissioned officer with his gun, receiving commands, 
and immediately making an "about face " to repeat them, so 
that his body was in continual motion. All the officers of 
the corps repeated word for word, and, after making their men 
pass under the Arc de Triomphe, they drew them up in line 
of battle in front of the Emperor. He galloped past the 
regiment, and then returned to his post to put it through the 
manoeuvres, and make it march off. This infantry drill occu- 
pied two hours. The guard closed up the march. Then the 
Emperor dismissed me, and my place was filled by a general 
of cavalry. It was high time ; I was covered with perspira- 
tion. My officers congratulated me upon my strong voice. 
The sergeant-major took me by the arm, and led me to the 
ca/e in the garden to give me something to drink. "Oh! I 
am so proud of you, my dear Coignet." The captain clapped 
his hands, saying, " It was I who forced him to be a corporal ; 
it is all my doing. Hov/ well he gives command!" — "Thank 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 203 

you," said I; "but one feels very small beside his sovereign. 
I heard him, but I could not look at him : he would have 
frightened me ; I only saw his horse." 

After drinking our bottle of wine, we went back to the 
company. My captain grasped my hand, and said, "I am 
delighted." I was overwhelmed with praises. When we got 
back to Courbevoie, my comrades' table was ready. My head 
cook had neglected nothing, and the wine had been dis- 
tributed : a litre and twenty -five sous for each man ; the non- 
commissioned officers, one day's pay (forty-three sous) ; the 
corporals, thirty-three sous. Every face looked bright and 
happy. 

The next day I resumed my tiresome duties. I encouraged 
my fifty recruits and my prisoners. I took my writing lessons 
in the evening, to say nothing of the superintendence of the 
refectory, and the care of the cleaning of the barracks. And 
never was any fault found with me. I said to myself, " I 
have got my marshal's baton ; I shall be the veteran of the 
barracks in my old age." But I was entirely mistaken. I had 
not gone through half my career. I was still sleeping on a 
bed of roses, and all the thorns were yet to be plucked out. 

Some grenadiers arrived to fill up the regiments, and take 
the places of the veterans who could no longer go into the 
field. Two companies were formed of veterans of the guard, 
who were delighted to have such easy duty to perform. 
Every day splendid-looking men came in. I put them through 
the drill, and the adjutants-major attended to the tactics. 
They pushed the recruits forward so rapidly that the 
Emperor received them at the end of two months. It was 
charming to see them drill. They never made a mistake, and 
were all received as sub-lieutenants of the line, and went to 
join their regiments. The Emperor asked me, "Do they 
know how to give command?" — "Yes, sire, all of them do." 
— " Let the first one come forward, and go through the manual 
of arms." He was delightejii " Order the second one out," 
said he. " Let him order a=ai:^ge in twelve time. Very well. 
Now, order out No. 10 from the first rank. Let him give the 
command to fire by two files. Make them carry arms. That 
will do." 



204 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I was very glad, when this examination was over. He said 
to the adjutants-major, " You must push forward the new- 
comers, and. make some cartridges for the grand drill. I will 
send you three tons of powder." 

Then he started off for St. Cloud. For a fortnight a 
himdred men were at work making cartridges, and the 
adjutants-major superintended them. They had to wear shoes 
without nails, so as to avoid danger of accident. Every two 
hours they were relieved, and their feet examined. We made a 
hundred thousand packages. As soon as the required number 
was made, we had grand drills in the plain of St. Denis and 
reviews at the Tuileries, with parks of artillery in considerable 
force, and wagons and ambulances. The Emperor had them 
opened, and got up on the wheels to be sure that everything 
was in place. Sometimes M, Larrey received a reprimand. The 
engineer officers also trembled before him. It became more 
apparent every day that great preparations for war were being 
made ; but we could not tell against whom it would be declared. 
But towards the latter part of April, 1812, we received orders 
to hold ourselves ready to march, and to have the linen and 
shoes inspected. Each soldier was to have three pairs of 
shoes, three shirts, and a dress uniform in his knapsack. 

The day before the final review, I was called before the 
council, and appointed factor of the two regiments of grena- 
diers, and to have charge of the transportation of money and 
equipages". These consisted of four wagons : two for the 
officers' trunks, and two which were to be loaded at the 
Treasury, on the Place Vendome. I was to show a letter, of 
which I was the bearer, and my two wagons were to be loaded 
immediately with casks containing twenty-eight thousand 
francs. The guard was kept in the day before we left, and I 
only was permitted to go out, so as to settle my accounts with 
the butcher and baker. I returned at two o'clock in the 
morning. The guard had started for Meaux at midnight on 
the 1st of May, 1812. An old sergeant, who was left at Cour- 
bevoie as keeper of the magazine, received my accounts, and 
handed me a " route," which authorized me to collect rations 
for eight men and sixteen horses. At noon I started from the 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 



205 



Place Vendoine with my four wagons, naounted on the first one, 
which had a pretty cabriolet on the front of it. I sat there, 
with my sabre at my side, like a man of great importance. 
I reached Meaux at midnight, and went immediately to the 




guard-room to learn the address of the adjutant-major. I 
was conducted to his apartment. " Who is there ? " said he. 
— " It is I, major." — " You, Coignet, is it possible ? Are 
your wagons all on the square ready loaded ? '" — " Yes, cap- 
tain." — " You have flown, my brave fellow. I will see you 
to-morrow, before we set out. Here are your orders for rations 



206 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

of forage and bread. Take four men from the guard-room and 
four soldiers from the wagons ; let them rouse the store- 
keeper. Your billets for lodgings are on my mantelpiece. 
Take them, and good-night." — " Good-night, captain. I will 
remain all night in the guard-room. It will be three o'clock 
by the time the horses and men are fed. The soldiers belong- 
ing to the trains shall sleep beside their horses, and I will be 
ready to start at seven o'clock." 

M. Belcourt came to the post to see me, and assure himself 
that the rations for the men and horses had been furnished. 
He was pleased with my activity. " You are supplied for the 
whole route ; you can follow us." — " If you will give me my 
' route,' I will start every day two hours before you do, and 
then I shall be able to go and collect all the letters lying in 
the post-offices in the large towns. I shall be waiting for you 
with your letters." He went to see the colonel, who approved 
of my plan. Every day I went on ahead of the corps. Neither 
my men nor my horses suffered from the heat. When we 
came to the halting-places, I had all breakages which had 
taken place repaired. 

The Emperor had left for Dresden, accompanied by the 
Empress. In this city there is the handsomest royal family 
in Europe. The father and son are not less than five feet ten 
inches tall. The Emperor remained here ten days to have an 
interview with the kings. After having given and received 
holy water in the courtyard, he bade farewell to his wife. 
Their leave-taking was a sad one. The splendid equipages 
set out for Paris, and the Emperor was left alone with his 
thoughts at the head of his grand army. 

We reached Posen on the 3d of June, and Koenigsberg on 
the 12th, where he established his headquarters. There we 
had a brief season of repose, as he had gone to Dantzig, where 
he remained four days. This refreshed the old guard, who 
had made forced marches. We received orders to start for 
Insterburg, and, on the 21st of June, we reached Wilkowski. 
We left there on the 22d and 23d of June, and made our head- 
quarters at a village a league and half from Kowno. The 
next day, at nine o'clock in the evening, we began the con- 



SIXTH NOTE-BOOK. 



20T 



struction of three bridges over the ISTiemen. The work was 
completed at twenty-five minutes before midnight, and the 
army began to enter the Russian territory. 

It was wonderful to see those bodies of men moving over 
those barren plains. Often they were without shelter and 
without bread; often in the wildest places, where we knew 
not where to turn to find necessary food. But Providence 
and courage never abandon a good soldier. 





SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 



THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN". I AM APPOINTED LIEUTENANT ON 

THE MINOR IMPERIAL STAFF. THE RETREAT FROM MOS- 
COW. 

On the 26tli of June, 1812, we crossed the Niemen. Prince 
Murat formed the advance guard with his cavalry ; Marshal 
Davout, with sixty thousand men, marched in column, together 
with the whole guard and his artillery, on the high road to 
Wilna. It is impossible to give any idea of such a spectacle 
as those columns, moving over those arid plains, with no 
habitations except some wretched villages devastated by the 
Russians. Prince Murat caught up with them at the bridge 
of Kowno ; they were obliged to fall back upon Wilna. The 
weather, which up to that time had been very fine, suddenly 
changed. On the 29th of June, at three o'clock, a violent 
storm arose, just before we came to a village, which I had 
had the greatest possible difficulty in reaching. When we 
reached the shelter of this village, we could not unharness our 
horses ; we had to take off their bridles, cut some grass for 
them, and light our fires. The storm of sleet and snow was 
so terrible that we could scarcely keep our horses still; we 
were obliged to fasten them to the wheels. I was half dead 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 209 

with the cold; not being able to stand it any longer, I opened 
one of mj wagons, and crept inside. Next morning a heart- 
rending sight met our gaze : in the cavalry camp near by, the 
ground was covered with horses frozen_to_jieath-;- more than 
ten thousand died during that dreadful night. When I got ' 
out of my wagon, all numbed with the cold, I saw that three 
of my horses were dead. After harnessing up my four wagons, 
I distributed all I had remaining. The unfortunate animals 
shook so that they broke the harness as soon as they were 
hitched; they threw themselves into their collars in despera- 
tion ; they seemed perfectly wild, and plunged violently. If I 
had been an hour later, I should have lost them all. I must 
say, it took all our strength to manage them. 

When we reached the highway, we found some dead soldiers, 
who had not been able to stand up against the terrible storm. 
This demoralized a great many of our men. Fortunately, our 
forced marches caused the Emperor of Russia to leave Wilna, 
where he had established his headquarters. In this large city 
it was possible to reduce the army to order. The Emperor 
arrived on the 29th of June, and immediately gave orders 
to deprive the stragglers of all their arms, and quarter them 
in an enclosure outside of the city. Here they were closely 
confined, and their rations were distributed to them. The 
gendarmes were sent out in every direction to pick them up. 
They numbered three battalions of seven hundred men, and 
had all preserved their arms. 

After a short interval of rest, the army marched forward 
into immense forests, where it was necessary to be constantly 
on the watch, for fear of being surprised b}^ the enemy in 
ambush. An army must march slowly when there is danger 
of being cut off. Before he started himself, the Emperor sent 
the chasseurs of his guard on ahead, and we remained with 
him. On the 13th of July, he issued an order for twenty-two 
non-commissioned officers to be sent to him, for promotion to 
lieutenancies in the line. As the chasseurs had all gone off, 
all the promotions fell to us. We had to be on the square at 
two o'clock to be presented to the Emperor. At noon I was 
passing by with my package of letters, for distribution, under 



210 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

my arm ; Major Belcourt grasped my arm, and, pressing it 
heartily, said, " My brave fellow, you will be promoted to-day 
to be lieutenant of the line." — "I thank you; but I do not 
wish to return to the line." — "I tell you, you must this day 
wear the epaulets of a lieutenant ; and I give you my word 
tha,t if the Emperor puts you into the line, I will manage to 
have you returned to the guard. So not a word ; be on the 
square at two o'clock, without fail." — " Very well, I will be 
there." — "I shall be there before you." — '•' All right, cap- 
tain." 

At two o'clock, the Emperor came to review us ; all twenty- 
two of us were there, standing in line. Beginning at the 
right-hand man, and looking every one of those fine-looking 
non-commissioned officers all over from head to foot, he said to 
General Dorsenne, " These will make fine regimental officers." 
When he came to me,- he saw that I was the smallest of them 
all, and the major said to him, "This is our instructor; he 
does not wish to go into the line." — " What ! you do not 
wish to go into the line ? " — " ISTo, sire; I wish to remain in 
your guard." — " Very well, I will appoint you to my minor 
staff." Then, turning to his chief of staff, Count Monthyon, 
he said, "Take this little 'grumbler' as assistant in the minor 
general staff." How glad I was to remain near the Emperor ! 
I did not suspect that I was leaving paradise for hell ; but I 
learned it in time. 

The brave General Monthyon came up to me; "Here is my 
address. Come to me to-morrow at eight o'clock, to receive 
my orders." That evening my comrades shot my knapsack 
to pieces.i 

The next day, at the appointed hour, I went to see the 
general, who received me with the gracious smile of a man 
who loves his veterans. " Well," said he, " you are to do duty 
near the Emperor. If it Avill not be too much trouble, please 
cut off your long mustaches ; the Emperor does not like mus- 
taches on his staff officers. Come, now, make the sacrifice. 
If I were to send you on a mission, would you be afraid of a 

1 A symbolic ceremony in use in the old army. It proclaimed that the newly pro- 
moted man would have no more haversacks to carry. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 211 

Cossack ? " — "No, general." — " I want two of your comrades, 
who know how to command, to lead three odd battalions. 
You will know which to select ; send them to me. As for 
you, I have seen you command ; you understand your busi- 
ness. I have three battalions of stragglers to send back to 
their army corps. To-morrow you shall command them in 
presence of the Emperor. So come here with your two com- 
rades, and we will go at once to organize the three battalions." 

On reaching the enclosure, the general called for the soldiers 
of the third corps, and placed them at one side, and soon for 
those of the other corps. When this was done, we returned 
to settle up our accounts with the quartermaster of the guard, 
and receive our certificates and our funds. Fortunately for 
me, the soldiers of the train had provided me with a fine 
horse, with saddle and portmanteau. So far, I was all right, 
but I had no chapeau, no sabre ; I had only my foraging cap, 
and my chevrons had been taken off. I looked like a degraded 
non-commissioned officer. This hurt me. 

I went to the quartermaster's office to get my pay and the 
certificate of my services, and then to take leave of my kind 
officers. They told me to take my choice of the horses 
belonging to my teams. " I thank you. but I am already 
well mounted. I had set aside a fine horse, with saddle 
and bridle, which did not belong to the equipages, and I 
leave everything in good condition." — '•' Farewell, my 
brave fellow, we will see one another often." — " If I had 
a chapeau, I should be content." — " Very well, come by 
this evening, and you will find one at the quartermaster's 
office ; I will look out for it," said the adjutant-major. "Now 
I am all right." — " And if I can find a sabre for you, I will 
do it at once. You have a right to one." 

I left them, quite overwhelmed ; I went to see Count 
Monthyon, and tell him I had been discharged. " I will have 
your first pay as lieutenant given to you so that you can fit 
yourself out. Make haste and settle up your affairs ; we must 
be off soon." — "To-morrow, general, all my accounts will be 
settled." 

That night I went to the quartermaster's office, and found 



212 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



a chapeaii and an old sabre, and I felt as big again. The next 
morning, I presented myself with my long sabre at my side, 
and a three-cornered hat. " Ah ! " said he, " you look nicely. 
I must find you some epaulets. We shall leave on the 16th 
of July. Come to me twice a day for orders." 

On the morning of the 15th, I presented myself before 
Count Monthyon, who said, " We shall leave to-morrow. You 
will have seven hundred men to take back to the third corps. 
At noon we go to the castle and see the Emperor. I have 
just ordered your two comrades to be ready at eleven o'clock, 
to take command of their battalions. They must be reviewed 
at once ; the muster-rolls are made out by 
regiments. My aide-de-camp has gone to 
have the roll-call ; we must be ready." 

When we reached the enclosure, we 
found them all under arms, and forming 
three battalions. He placed us in com- 
mand, and had us acknowledged as their 
commanders ; he gave us our route-bills, 
and the rolls of the regiments. At six 
o'clock, on the 15th, I went into the en- 
closure to call them out, regiment by 
regiment. I first found a hundred and 
thirty-three Spaniards belonging to the 
regiment of Joseph Napoleon, and so on 
' -^ - with the others. When my roll had been 

called, I made them arm themselves. I had had no sergeant 
given me ; a drummer and one little musician was my whole 
staff with which to manage seven hundred men. I made them 
carry arms and stack arms. At nine o'clock we had soup, and 
at ten all was ready. My two comrades were equally energetic. 
At eleven o'clock Count Monthyon came up, passed on rapidly, 
and we started off. Fortunately, I had a drum ; but for that, 
I should have marched like a mute. 

My little musician marched at the right of the battalion 
with his little sword in his hand. We went to the palace. I 
placed my battalion on the right in line of battle, and in 
the front rank, Avith the others behind. 1 stationed guides on 




./ 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 213 

the line ; as they knew nothing of the drill, I had to take them 
by the arm, and the Emperor was watching me from his bal- 
cony. I made them carry arms, and gave the command, 
'' Dress up, in the centre ! Guides to your places ! " I cor- 
rected the dressing, and took my place at the right of my 
battalion. Count Monthyon went for the Emperor. They 
came out, and a sign was made for me to come to them. 
" How many cartridges do you need ? " — " Three hundred 
and seventy-three packages, sire." — " Make out an order for 
your cartridges and one for two rations of bread and meat. 
Make them carry arms, by the right flank, and take them out 
on the square. I will have them guarded ; and go at once 
for your bread, meat, and cartridges.^' 

All the outlets from the square were guarded ; my arms 
were stacked, and I took some men for special duty, went for 
the cartridges, and distributed them ; then I went for the 
meat and bread. At seven o'clock all the distributions had 
been made. I was half dead of hunger, and went to get some- 
thing to eat, and see about my fine horse. I chose a horse- 
man Avho had been dismounted for my servant. I received 
an order to march at eight o'clock. 

After leaving Wilna, Ave found ourselves surrounded by 
great forests. I left the head of my battalion, and went to 
the rear, making the stragglers keep up by placing my little 
musician on the right to mark the time. Night came on, and 
I saw my deserters steal away into the depths of the forest 
without being able to bring them back to the ranks on account 
of the darkness. I could do nothing but fret. What Avas to 
be done Avith such soldiers ? I said to myself, "• They Avill 
all desert." 

They marched for two hours. The head of my battalion, 
coming to an open space Avhere several roads met iaid where 
there Avere no Avoods, established themselves there. When 
the rear came up, the fires were already lighted. Imagine 
my surprise ! "What are you doing there ? Why do you not 
go on ? " — " We have marched far enough ; we need rest and 
food." 

The fires Avere burning and the pots boiling. At midnight 



214 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

the Emperor passed by with his escort. Seeing my bivouac 
all lighted up, he halted, and called me to the door of his 
carriage. " What are you doing here ? " — " Please your 
Majesty, it is not I who command, but they. I came up with 
the rear-guard, and found the head of the battalion settled 
down and the fires lighted. A great many deserters have 
already returned to Wilna, taking their two rations with them. 
What can I do alone with seven hundred stragglers ? " — 
" Do the best you can ; I will give orders to have them ar- 
rest'-d." 

1 departed, and I was left to spend the night with these un- 
manageable soldiers, and sigh for my sergeant's straps. But 
this was not the end of my troubles. At dawn I had the 
assembly beaten ; at broad daylight I had the drummers beat 
to arms, and started once more on our route, telling them that 
the Emperor was going to have all the deserters arrested. I 
marched until noon, and, as we emerged from a wood, I came 
upon a herd of cows grazing in a meadow. My soldiers im- 
mediately took their bowls, and went off to milk the cows, 
and we had to wait for them. When the evening came, they 
would camp before nightfall, and every time we came across 
any cows, we had to stop. It may be imagined that this was 
not much fun for me. At last we came to a forest, very far 
away from the towns, a considerable portion of which had 
been destroyed by fire. This burnt forest extended along the 
way on my right, and I saw a party of my troops turn to the 
right into these charred woods. I galloped off after them, to 
make them come back to the road. To my surprise, these 
soldiers made an about face, and fired at me. I was obliged 
to let them go. This was a plot got up among the soldiers of 
Joseph Napoleon, Avho were all Spaniards. There were a 
hundred and thirty-three of them, and not one single French- 
man had joined the brigands. When I returned to my detach- 
ment, I made them form a circle, and said to them, " I shall 
be obliged to report this affair. Be Frenchmen, and follow me ! 
I shall act as rear-guard no longer ; that shall be your duty. 
By the right flank ! " 

That same evening, we emerged from the forest, and came 




They shot sixty-two of tliem."— Page :215. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 215 

to a village where there was a cavalry station, with a colonel 
who was guarding the forks of the road, and showing the 
troops which to take. I went to him, and made my report ; 
he ordered my battalion to camp, and, upon suggestions from 
me, he sent for some Jews and his interpreter. He judged, 
from the distance, to which village my deserters must have 
gone, and sent off fifty chasseurs, with the Jews to guide 
them. About half-way they met some peasants who had been 
unjustly treated, and were coming to ask for protection. They 
reached the village at midnight, surrounded it, and surprised 
the Spaniards while they were asleep ; seized them, disarmed 
them, and put their guns in a wagon. The men were tied and 
put into small wagons with a strong guard. At eight o'clock 
in the morning the hundred and thirty -three Spaniards arrived, 
and were set free from their shackles. The colonel ordered 
them into line, and said to them, " You have behaved very 
badly ; I shall deal with you by lots. Are there any sergeants 
or corporals among you to form your lots ? " At this two 
sergeants showed their chevrons, which had been concealed by 
their cloaks. " Stand aside, there ! Are there any corpo- 
rals ? " Three came forward. " Stand there ! Are there any 
more among you ? All right ! Now, the rest of you draw 
lots." Those who drew white tickets were placed on one side, 
and those who drew black ones, on the other. When all had 
drawn, he said to them, "You have run away, you have 
acted as incendiaries, you have fired upon your officer ; the law 
condemns you to death, and you must submit to your punish- 
ment. I could have you all shot, but I will spare half of you. 
Let them serve as an example to you. Commander, order 
your battalion to load their guns. My assistant will give the 
command to fire." They shot sixty-two of them. My God ! 
what a scene it was. I left the spot immediately with a 
bursting heart, but the Jews were highly delighted.^ Such 
was my first experience as lieutenant. 

I was anxious to reach the end of my journey ; but the mar- 
shal was ahead of me. At Gluskoe, where I found the guard, 

1 They had the spoils of the men who were shot. 



216 THE NARRATIVE OE CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

I put my soldiers into bivouac, and. had provisions given them. 
The next day I started for Witepsk, where two severe battles 
had taken place. Oh, how I longed to get rid of my hateful 
burden ! At last I reached Witepsk, full of joy, thinking I 
had come to the end of my march. But I was mistaken ; the 
marshal's corps was still three leagues ahead. I went to get 
orders as to which road I should take, and, on returning, found 
only the drummer waiting for me. " Well, where are they 
all ? " — " All run away," said my drummer and my soldier ; 
" some one told them that the third corps was only one league 
off." 

I started off with my drummer and my soldier. I had 
three leagues to go. At four o'clock I caught up with the 
marshal's staff. The aide-de-camp and the officers, seeing me 
alone with my drummer and solitary soldier, began to laugh. 
'' It is not very becoming in you, gentlemen, to laugh at me. 
See, general, here is my route-bill ; you will see what I have 
been doing since I left Wilna." 

When the chief of staff had looked over my report, he took 
me aside. " Where are your soldiers ? " — " They deserted me 
at Witepsk, just before we entered the town, when I galloped 
off to get orders for the route I was to take to join you. They 
all ran off m the joyful expectation of joining their corps 
more quickly. As for the sixty who were shot, there was not 
one Frenchman among them." — ''How much you must have 
endured from these stragglers ! " — " Ah, general, I have 
sweated blood." — "I want to present you to the marshal." — 
" I know him, and he knows me ; he will not laugh at me as 
your officers did. They wounded me very much." — " Come, 
my brave fellow, think no more of it. Come with me ; I will 
make it all right." 

When he came where the officers were, he said, " Take this 
brave man to my tent, and give him something to drink. I am 
going to see the marshal, for he brings us news. See ^to this 
at once. I will rejoin you in a moment." He returned, and 
taking me by the arm before his officers, who were much con- 
founded, he said, " Come, the marshal wishes to see you." 

When the marshal saw my uniform, he said, " You are one 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 217 

of my old grumblers." — " Yes, general. It was you who 
made me put the cards into my stockings so I should be tall 
enough to enter the grenadiers whom you commanded at that 
time." — " That is so ; I remember. You had already received 
a gun of honor at the battle of Montebello, and you have 
since been decorated." — " Yes, general ; the first one in 1804." 
— "This is one of my old grenadiers. You must not go away 
till to-morrow. I will give you my despatches. Which is 
your corps ? " — "I am assistant at the Emperor's minor 
headquarters, under command of Count Monthyon." — " Ah ! 
you have a good position. To-morrow, at ten o'clock, you will 
receive my despatches. Put this old soldier at the officers' 
table, and feed his horse." — " Yes, marshal." — " And hand 
over to him all the men who have returned and been received. 
Look over all the regiments, and see if they have re-en- 
tered, and report to me this evening at eight o'clock." To 
me, he said, " At ten o'clock to-morrow, you must start for 
Witepsk ; you will find the Emperor there. I will give you 
a letter to Monthyon." Eeturning to his officers, the chief of 
staff said, " This officer is one of our oldest soldiers ; receive 
him as he deserves ; he is well known to the marshal. Let 
him dine with you, and after dinner my aide-de-camp will 
accompany him to the commanders of the corps, so that he 
can receive the men who have returned and been re-entered." 

In a word, they sang low mass with me, and put water in 
their wine. I Avas most kindly received, and, after dinner, J 
was conducted to the camp, where I found my re-entered sol- 
diers, who hastened to ask pardon for their ill-conduct to me. 
" I have no complaint against you, soldiers," said I ; "it was 
your zeal which carried you away." 

When we met the colonel of the Spaniards, who was a 
Frenchman, I asked him for my receipt. "But," said he, 
" half of them are missing." — " They are dead, colonel. Go 
and see the marshal." — " What, dead ? " — " Half of them 
were shot." — " Then I will shoot the other half." — " You 
have no right to do it ; they have been pardoned. They sub- 
mitted to their punishment, and the Emperor must decide 
the matter." — "How many are killed?" — "Sixty-two, of 



218 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

whom two were sergeants and three corporals/' — " Give me 
the details." — "I cannot ; the marshal is waiting Let me 
have my receipt, if you please ; I must go at once." The aide- 
de-camp took him aside, and, after a few words, we left. The 
next day, at eight o'clock, I went to the marshal. " Here are 
your despatches, march ! " 

By noon I reached Witepsk, and went to see Count Monthy- 
on. I handed him my despatches and receipts. He had 
learned all that had passed, and the Emperor was informed of 
it. The marshal had said a word or two for me which pleased 
the general. "You shall not go on duty again," said he, 
"until we reach the suburbs of Smolensk." 

Witepsk is a large town. There I met my old comrades 
and my kind officers. We remained there waiting for sup- 
plies. The excessive heat, added to all our other privations, 
brought on dysentery, from which our army suffered consider- 
able loss. The Emperor left Witepsk during the night of the 
12th of August. All the corps under his command went, by 
forced marches, to Smolensk, a strong position about thirty- 
two leagues off. The investment was completed on the morn- 
ing of the 17th of August. Napoleon ordered the attack 
along the whole line about two o'clock in the afternoon, and 
the battle Avas a terribly bloody one. During the engagement 
he sent for me. " Start at once for Witepsk with this order, 
which enjoins upon every man, no matter to Avhat branch of 
the army he may belong, to give you assistance in unsaddling 
your horse. At the relays, all the horses will be at your dis- 
posal in case of need, except the artillery horses. Are you 
mounted ? " — " Yes, sire, I have two horses." — "■ Take them 
both. When you have ridden one down, take the other. Go as 
fast as you possibly can. I shall expect you back to-morrow ; 
it is now three o'clock. Go ! " I mounted at once ; Count 
Monthyon said to me, " There is need for haste, my veteran ; 
take your other horse by the bridle, and leave the first one on 
the way." — "But they are both saddled." — "Leave your 
best saddle with my servants. Do not lose a moment," 

I flew like lightning, leading my other horse. When the 
first one began to give way under me, I dismounted, with one 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 



219 



turn I changed the saddle to the other horse, and left my poor 
beast lying on the ground. I dashed on. When I came to a 
wood, I met some sutlers who were going to rejoin their corps. 
'' Halt ! a horse at once ! I leave you mine ready saddled ; I 
am in great haste. Unhitch and unsaddle my horse." — 
" Here are four fine Polish horses," said the sutler, " which 
will you have ? " — " That one ! quick, quick ! I am in a 
hurry. T have not a moment to lose." Ah, that good horse, 
how far he carried me ! I found in that forest a line of posts 
for the protection of the route. When I came to the officer of 
the post : " See, here is my order : a horse, quick ! Keep mine ! " 

I did not lose 
an hour's time all 
the way to Wi- 
tepsk. I gave 
my despatches to 
the general in 
command. After 
reading them he 
said, " Give this 
officer his dinner, 
let him lie down 
on a mattress for 

an hour, have a - _„.;r:L~ ^^'^^'^^^ __ - _J"Ir_ " ^"~ 

good horse ready ~ ~ " '^«»-c 

for him, and a chasseur to escort him. You will find a regi- 
ment camped near the wood. He can change horses at the post 
in the wood." Wlien the hour had elapsed the general came. 
" Your package is ready ; start, my brave fellow. If you meet 
with no delay on the way, you will not have spent twenty-four 
hours on the road, even counting the loss of time in changing' 
horses." I started off well mounted and escorted. I found 
the regiment camped in the forest. I presented my order to 
the colonel. As soon as he read it, "Give him your horse, 
adjutant-major, it is the Emperor's order. Unsaddle his 
horse. There is no time to lose." 

I expected to find the cavalry stations in the wood ; but I 
did not. They had all gone off, or been captured. I found 




220 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

myself alone witliout any escort. I wondered what I ought 
to do. I went along more slowly, and presently saw, some 
distance off on an eminence, some cavalry dismounted. I kept 
along the edge of the wood so as not to be seen, for they were 
doubtless Cossacks on the watch. I went closer into the wood. 
Suddenly a peasant came out, who said to me, " Cossacks ! " 
I had seen them plainly enough. Without hesitating, I 
dismounted, and, seizing my pistol, I pointed it at the peasant, 
showing him gold in one hand and my pistol in the other. 
He understood, and said to me, "Tac, tac,^'' which meant, " All 
right." Putting my gold back in the pocket of my waistcoat, 
and passing my horse's bridle over my arm, I took my loaded 
pistol in my left hand, and, with my right, I held on to the 
Russian who led me along a path. After following it for a 
considerable distance, he brought me back towards my route, 
saying, '' Nien, nlen, Cossacks !" 

I then recognized ray road, for I saw the birch-trees. Filled 
with joy, I gave three napoleons to the peasant, and mounted 
my horse. How I dug my spurs into his sides ! The road 
disappeared behind me. I was fortunate enough to reach a 
farm before my horse began to stumble. I dashed into the 
courtyard, and, seeing three young physicians, I dismounted, 
and ran to the stable. " A horse at once ! I will leave you 
mine. Eead this order." 

I mounted another good horse, which travelled well ; but I 
should need one more, at least, to carry me to the end of my 
journey. The night was coming on, and I could no longer see 
my way before me. Fortunately, I met four officers well 
mounted. I began to go through the same ceremony. " See 
if you can read this order from the Emperox*, requiring you to 
give me a fresh horse." A large man, whom I took to be a 
general, said to one of the others, " Unsaddle your horse ; give 
it to this officer. His orders are pressing. Assist him." 

This saved me. I reached the field of battle. I went 
around looking and asking for the Emperor. All answered 
me, " We do not know where he is." I went on, and leaving 
the route, I saw some fires on my left. I came to some small 
brushwood. I went forward and passed near a battery. Some 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 221 

one called, '' Who goes there ? " — " An ordnance officer." — • 
'' Halt ! you are going towards the enemy." — " Where is the 
Emperor? " — "Come this way; I will lead you near his post." 
When I rode up to the officer, he said, " Conduct him to the 
Emperor's tent." — "I thank you." I reached the tent, and 
had myself announced. General Monthyon came out, and said 
to me, " Is it you, my brave fellow ? I will take you to the 
Emperor at once. He thought you had been captured." Then 
my general said to the Emperor, " Here is the officer who has 
just come from Witepsk." I gave him my despatches, and he 
saw my deplorable condition. " How did you get through the 
forest? The Cossacks were there." — "With gold, sire; a 
peasant took me through a winding path, and saved me." — 
" How much did 3'ou pay him ? " — "' Three napoleons." — 
" And your horses ? " — "I have none now.'- — "Monthyon, 
pay him for all the expenses of his journey : for his two 
horses, and the sixty francs which the peasant well deserved. 
Give my old grumbler time to remount himself. For his two 
horses, sixteen hundred francs and expenses. I am well 
pleased with you." 

The next day we entered Smolensk. At daylight no one 
could pass into the city. The Russians, from the other side 
on the heights, riddled the town with shells and cannon-balls. 
It was in a sad plight. About two o'clock in the afternoon, 
a general attack was ordered. The battle was terribly bloody, 
and the firing ceased only with the daylight. The city took 
fire that beautiful August night. In order to get into it, we 
had to cross a low ground, and then ascend to a gate, which 
was barricaded with sacks of salt. Thousands of sacks barred 
this handsome entrance. As for the street, we traversed it 
between furnaces. All those fine storehouses were a solid 
mass of embers, particularly the sugar depot. It is impossible 
to describe the different colors of the blaze. It may be truly 
said that Smolensk cost us dear, and the Russians dearer. 
The loss on both sides was considerable. We were obliged 
to move round the city in order to take possession of 
the heights. Then we remained several days at Smolensk. 
To go out of the city, we had to descend a very steep slope, 



222 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

cross a bridge, and turn abruptly to the right. From Smolensk 
to Moscow is a distance of ninety-three leagues, and the whole 
way the road is through deep forests. On the 19th of August 
took place the battle which Marshal ISTey fought at V-aloutina. 
The Emperor received a report of the battle, and learned that 
Marshal Davout had gone three leagues beyond the line of 
battle. He had gone through a forest without searching it, 
and might be cut off by the Russians. The Emperor foresaw 
this, and sent me to order him to fall back. 

On reaching the marshal, I handed him the despatches. He 
immediately ordered his reserve to wheel about, and his 
whole corps to retreat, and sent me back. I found his reserve 
division already in close columns, occupying the whole road 
through the wood. Not being able to pass them, I took a 
road to the left, which ran parallel with the route, and 
galloped off to get ahead of the retreating division, and so 
ran into the midst of a Russian column, which was going 
along this narrow road. Seeing that it was routed, I did 
not lose my presence of mind, but began to shout with the 
voice of a Stentor, " Forward ! " And, turning back down the 
road, I passed those frightened fugitives, who stooped as they 
marched. I finally extricated myself, and, gaining the main 
road, I informed our officers that the Russians were in the 
wood. 

I met the guard on the way, they having left Smolensk on 
the 25th of August to go to the outposts. I also saw the 
Emperor, and reported to him my adventure. "Did you see the 
battle-field ? " asked the Emperor. " No, sire ; but the road was 
covered with Russians and a great many Frenchmen." — "You 
cannot follow me ; you must come on with the carriages to- 
morrow, and join me." 

He said to his groom, " Take care of my old grumbler ; he 
will follow you." I Avas kindly treated, and the next day a 
horse was furnished me^ so that I could allow mine to rest. 
We rejoined the Emperor by forced marches. On the 29th, as 
the Russians were leaving a town on the banks of the Wiazma, 
they set fire to the storehouses, and a fourth of the town was 
burnt. For forty leagues they continued to do this, remorse- 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 223 

lessly burning the cottages filled with their own wounded, 
which we found reduced to ashes. Xot a barrack remained 
along the route. As for their wounded, the amputations were 
skilfully performed, and bandages well applied; but they 
afterwards sent them into another world. And if they did 
not have time to bury them, they left them in piles for us to 
see. It was a heart-rending sight. 

The Emperor, after having spent a part of the day of the 
6th of September in reconnoitring the enemy's position, sent 
orders for the battle which was to take place the next day. 
It is known as the battle of the Moskwa. In order to pass 
into the plain occupied by the Russians, it was necessary to 
leave the wood. As soon as we emerged from it we saw, on 
the right of the road, a large redoubt which shelled us as we 
came out. We had to make unheard-of efforts to take it. The 
cuirassiers carried it, and then the columns spread out in the 
plain. The grand reserve was placed on the left of the main 
road, and we could not see the battle line of the columns ; we 
could only see some coppices of willows and skirts of woods. 
We passed the night in getting ready ; at break of day we 
were all on foot, and the artillery began on both sides. The 
Emperor made a great movement with his reserve, and ordered 
it over to the right side of the main road, flanked by a deep 
ravine, from which position he did not move all day. He had 
there with him twenty or twenty -five thousand men — the elite 
of France — all in full uniform. From time to time messen- 
gers came to ask him to order the guard to finish the battle, 
but in vain ; he held out the whole day. Our troops made 
every possible effort to take the redoubts which were thunder- 
ing upon our infantry on the right ; they were always repulsed, 
and the victory depended upon this position. The general 
led me up to the Emperor. " Are you well mounted ? " — 
" Yes, sire." — '' Go at once and carry this order to Caulain- 
court ; you will find him on the right by the side of the 
wood. You will see the cuirassiers ; it is he who commands 
them. Do not return till after the end." 

I went to the general, and presented the order. He read it, 
and said to his aide-de-camp, ''Here is the order which I have 



224 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

been expecting, Sound to horse ! Send the colonels up for 
orders." They came up on horseback, and formed a circle. 
Caulaincourt read them the order to take the redoubts, and 
appointed to each the redoubt he was to attack. '' I will re- 
serve the second for myself. You, officer of the staff, follow 
me ; do not lose sight of me." — "I shall not, general." — '' If I 
fall, you, colonel, must take the command ; those redoubts 
must be taken at the first charge." Then he said to the colo- 
nels, " You hear what I say : go take the head of your regi- 




ments. The grenadiers are waiting for us. There is not a 
moment to lose ! Trot when I give the command, and gallop 
as soon as you are within gunshot. The grenadiers will leap 
over the barriers." 

The cuirassiers went along the edge of the wood and fell 
upon the redoubts directly in front, while the grenadiers 
attacked the barriers. Cuirassiers and French grenadiers 
struggled pell-mell with the Russians. The brave Caulain- 
court fell stone-dead beside me. I followed the old colonel 
who took the command, and never lost sight of him. When 
the charge was over and the redoubts in our possession, the 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 225 

old colonel said to me, " Go tell the Emperor that the victory 
IS ours. I shall send to him the staff-officers taken in the 
redoubts." 

The Russians made every possible effort to save the re- 
doubts, but Marshal ISTey thundered upon their right wing. 
I started off at a gallop, and, as I was crossing the battle-field, 
I saw the ground ploughed up by cannon-balls, and thought I 
should not escape them. When I reached the Emperor I dis- 
mounted, and, loosing the string and taking off my hat, I saw 
that the hind corner was gone. "Well done," said he ; "you 
have had a narrow escape." — "I had not perceived it before. 
The redoubts are taken ; General Caulaincourt is dead." — ■ 
" What a loss ! " — "A good many officers are to be brought 
to you." 

Everybody laughed at my hat with its one corner. I did 
not mind it ; people laugh at everything. The Emperor called 
for his bear-skin. As he was occupying the sloping side of a 
ravine, he was almost in a standing position when lying down. 
Just at this moment the officers who had been captured in the 
redoubts arrived, escorted by a company of grenadiers. They 
were drawn up in line according to their rank. The Emperor 
reviewedthem, and asked if his soldiers had robbed them of any- 
thing. They answered that not a single soldier had interfered 
with them in any way. An old grenadier of the company stepped 
from the ranks, and, presenting his arms to the Emperor, said, 
" It was I who captured that superior officer." The Emperor 
listened to all that the grenadier had to say, and took down 
his name. " And what did your captain do ? " — " He was 
the first man to enter the third redoubt." The Emperor then 
said to the latter, "I appoint you chief of battalion, and 
your officers shall have the cross." And added, " Commander, 
order a movement by the left flank, and be off to the field of 
honor." Then they shouted, " Long live the Emperor ! " and 
flew to rejoin their eagle. We passed the night on the battle- 
field, and the next day the Emperor had all the wounded 
taken up. This task made us shudder ; the ground was cov- 
ered with Russian muskets : near their field hospitals there 
were piles of dead bodies and heaps of limbs which had been 
amputated. 



226 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

Murat pursued them so rapidly that they burned up their 
wounded men; we found them all charred skeletons. That 
shows how much they valued their soldiers. The Emperor 
left Mojaisk on the afternoon of the 12th, and moved his 
headquarters to Tartaki, a small village. Count Monthyon 
sent for me, and said, ''You are very fortunate : the Emperor 
intends sending you to join Prince Murat, who is to enter 
Moscow to-morrow. Come, take the Emperor's orders." When 
I went into His Majesty's presence, he said, " I have appointed 
you to go and join Murat ; take with you twenty gendarmes, 




and when you reach the Kremlin examine the vaults, and post 
the gendarmes at all the entrances of the palace. Monthyon, 
give him your interpreter and my despatches for Murat. To- 
morrow morning you are to start." How proud I was of such 
a mission ! At ten o'clock I had reached Prince Murat. I 
gave him my despatches. "We are to march," said he; "you 
will follow me with your gendarmes." — " Yes, prince." — 
"But you have only a piece of a hat." — "The Eussians 
wanted the other part for touchwood.'^ He burst out laugh- 
ing. " You were formerly in the guard ? " — " Yes, prince ; 
in the foot grenadiers." — " You are one of our veterans. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 



227 



Order your gendarmes to be on horseback at eleven o'clock to 
advance with us to the bridge." 

We emerged from the forest. A dry and sandy plain sloped 
rapidly down in front of an immensely long bridge, built on 
piles, where there was no water •, it was used only during the 
melting of the snows. When we reached the bridge, we found 
the city authorities there and a Russian general, who pre- 
sented the keys to the prince. After the usual ceremonies, 
the prince gave the Russian general a casket richly studded 
with diamonds, and we entered the city by a broad and well- 
built street.^ We were preceded by four pieces of cannon, a 
battalion, and a .^ . - 

squad of cavalry; 
all the people 
came to the win- 
dows to see us 
pass, and the la-(' 
dies presented us 
with bottles ot 
wine, but no one 
stopped. We 
marched slowly. 
At the end of this 
immense street 
we came to the foot of the Kremlin. The ascent to it is very 
steep. It is a strong castle overlooking the city, which is 
divided into two parts, and, consequently, two immense cities 
seem lying below it. On its summit to the right is the 
splendid palace of the Emperors. On the square of the 
Kremlin to the left is a large arsenal ; to the right, the church, 
which has the palace at its back, and in front of the square is 

1 If the interest of Coignet's narrative depended upon tlie statement of facts, there 
would be here, as in other places, much to verify. The keys of the city were not pre 
sented; the " authorities " were only some foreign merchants, and the Russian gen- 
eral was only an officer, deputized to propose a sort of tacit armistice in order to facil- 
itate the retreat through the city. As the advance-guard of the French almost 
touched the last ranks of the Russian rear-guard, Murat asked for the commander of 
the latter, and exchanged courtesies with him. He received from liim a cloak of long 
fur, and ofTered liim in exchange the Gourgand watch, which Coignet, stationed at 
some distance doubtless, took for a casket studded with diamonds. The watch was 
a very handsome one. 




228 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGN ET. 

a magnificent public building. As we turned to the right we 
were assailed by a perfect hail of shot, fired from the windows 
of the arsenal. We wheeled about ; the doors were burst 
open, and we found the ground floor and first story filled with 
drunken soldiers and peasants. A carnage ensued; those 
who escaped were put into the church. I lost my horse there. 
After this affray, Prince Murat continued his march, and de- 
scended into the lower town in order to pass out of the city 
and reach the road to Kalouga. 

I left the prince at the Kremlin, and went to carry out my 
orders. My interpreter took me to the magistrates to have my 
gendarmes lodged, and afterward conducted me to the palace. 
The interpreter must have said very fine things to them about 
me, for refreshments were offered me immediately, and it was 
there that I drank tea with rum in it, for the first time. I 
was lodged in the house of a Russian general, and with me, 
four gendarmes and the interpreter. I went with the guards 
to examine the subterranean passages, and then went up 
again into the palace. One could easily get lost there. I 
posted my gendarmes, and had their food provided for them 
by the gentlemen who had received me so kindly. I and my 
guide were invited into a smoking-room. I do not know what 
effect my one-cornered hat had upon them, but they all gazed 
at it, and wanted to touch it. 

I returned to the tomb of the czars. I was surprised to see 
at the foot of this gigantic monument a bell of immense size. 
I was told that it fell from the top of the framework, and was 
thus implanted here. The circumference of this bell has been 
decorated so as to mark it as an unusual monument ; it is 
surrounded by bricks, placed so that it can be seen. I climbed 
up into the tomb of the emperors, and saw the bell which 
occupies the place of the one of which I have just spoken ; it 
also is monstrous ; the clapper is something unheard of. 
Thousands of names are inscribed upon this bell. 

A beautiful street leading from the Kremlin opens upon a 
fine boulevard surrounded by handsome palaces. This part 
of the city was not burned, and became our place of refuge. 

When I had fulfilled the duty which had been assigned me, 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 229 

I waited for the Emperor, but in vain ; he did not come. He 
had set up his headquarters in the faubourg ; the guard took 
possession of the palace, and relieved my four gendarmes. As 
I was crossing the square of the Kremlin, I met some soldiers 
loaded with fur robes and bear-skins ; I stopped them, and 
offered to buy their handsome sable robes. " How much is 
this one ? " — " Forty francs." I took it immediately, and 
paid him the price he asked. " And this bear-skin ? " 
— '^ Forty francs." — " Here they are." What good luck it 
was thus to obtain these two things of such inestimable value 
to me. I went off with my gendarmes to the house of my 
Russian general. The Emperor was obliged to leave his 
headquarters in the faubourg daring the night, and establish 
himself in the Kremlin, in consequence of a fire which broke 
out in both of the lower towns. It must have required a 
great many persons to set fire to all parts of the town at the 
same time. It was said that all the galley-slaves took part 
in it ; each man had a street, and went from house to house, 
setting them on fire. We were obliged to escape into the 
squares and large gardens. Seven hundred of these incendi- 
aries were arrested, tinder in hand, and taken to the vaults of 
the Kremlin. This fire Avas rendered more frightful by the 
wind which blew the roofing of sheet-iron off the palaces and 
churches ; all the people, as well as the troops, found them- 
selves in the midst of the fire. The wind was terrible ; the 
sheets of iron were blown two leagues through the air. There 
were eight hundred fire-engines in Moscow, but they had all 
been carried away. 

About eleven o'clock in the night we heard screams in the 
gardens, and, going to see, found that our soldiers were rob- 
bing the women of their shawls and ear-rings. We hastened 
to put a stop to the pillage. Two or three thousand women 
were there, with their children in their arms, looking upon 
the horrors of the fire, and I am sure I never saw one of them 
shed a tear. 

The Emperor was obliged to withdraw on the evening of 
the 16th, and establish himself at the castle of Petrowskoi, 
about a league from Moscow. The army also left the city, 



230 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

which was thus abandoned to pillage and fire. The Emperor 
remained four days at Petrowskoi, awaiting the end of the 
burning of Moscow ; he re-entered that city on the 20th of 
September, and again took up his quarters in the Kremlin, 
and tlie minor-staff, to which 1 belonged, was stationed near 
the ramparts at a short distance from the Kremlin. I was 
employed as assistant, with two of my comrades, to a colonel 
of the staff, who had charge of the clearing of the hospitals. 

We were lodged in the house of a princess, all four of us, 
with our horses and our servants ; the colonel had three serv- 
ants of his own, and he kept them well employed. He used 
to send us into the hospitals to have the sick discharged, but 
never went himself. He stayed to attend to his own affairs. 
He would go out in the evening with three servants furnished 
with wax tapers ; he knew that the pictures in the churches 
were all in relief on plaques of silver, so he took them down, 
in order to get this silver plate ; put the saints into a crucible, 
and reduced them to ingots, which he sold to the Jews for 
bank-notes. He was a hard-looking man with a base counte- 
nance. 

We had thousands of bottles of Bordeaux wine, champagne, 
and thousands of pounds of white and brown sugar. Every 
evening the old princess sent us four bottles of good wine and 
some sugar. Her cellars were full of casks. She came fre- 
quently to see us, and consequently her house was respected. 
She spoke good French. One evening the colonel showed us 
his purchases, or, rather, his stolen goods, for he was always 
going around with his three servants. He showed us some 
beautiful fur robes made of the skins of the Siberian fox. I 
had the imprudence to show him mine, and he compelled me 
to exchange it with him for one of the Siberian fox. Mine 
was of sable, but I had to submit. I feared his vengeance. 
He was rascal enough to take it from me, and sell it to Prince 
Murat for three thousand francs. This robber of the churches 
was a disgrace to the name of Frenchman. I saw him after- 
wards at Wilna, frozen to death. God punished him. His 
servants robbed his body. 

All the hospitals in Moscow were under round vaults. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 231 

Russians and Frenchmen died together in these infected 
places. Evevy morning the wagons were loaded with the 
dead J and I had to see that they were buried, having them 
dumped from the wagons into holes twenty feet deep. It is 
impossible to describe such a sight. After the fire was over, 
a list was made out of the burned houses ; it numbered ten 
thousand ; and the palaces and churches burned were more 
than five hundred. A.11 that remained of them were the 
chimneys and the stoves, which were very large. They looked 
like a forest which had been lopped off, and only the stumps 
left. The ground might have been ploughed up, for there was 
not one stone left upon another. 

The palaces filled the city with parks, brooks, and conserva- 
tories, so large as to contain trees of considerable height, and 
bearing fruit in winter. This was one of the luxuries of 
Moscow. The losses could not be estimated. No one can 
imagine a sadder scene. 

When my wretched task was completed, I had a few days' 
rest. My general said to me, " I shall keep you near me ; you 
shall not leave me any more, and you shall eat at my table. 
You have suffered a great deal in the service of the evacuation 
of the hospitals. Now you shall rest." I was fortunate to be 
under such a general. I had nothing to do but to see that our 
horses were provided for, and seat myself at the table. My 
general had twelve covers ; and, as his aide-de-camp was a little 
lazy, I said to him, "Do not worry yourself; I will attend to 
everything." Thus all went well at our quarters. We had 
provisions enough for the winter, both for ourselves and our 
horses. I was not exempt from the duty of carrying de- 
spatches, however, when my turn should come. The Emperor 
held reviews every day. He sent oft trophies from Moscow, 
among them the cross from the tomb of the czars. It was a 
sight, that scaffolding erected to take down the cross. Men 
on it looked like dwarfs. This cross was thirty feet high, 
and was of solid silver. All the trophies were packed in 
large wagons, and sent tc General Claparede with a battalion 
of men as escort, and he consequently was the first to start 
out on the retreat. The Jews informed our soldiers of the 



232 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



hiding-places dug in the ground. Their cupidity caused great 
Avrong to be done to the unfortunate people. No one in. the 
army put any stop to the robbery. It was dreadful to see it. 

I was sent to a village, eighteen or twenty leagues from 
Moscov*^, to carry orders to Prince Murat. I came upon a 
body of cavalry in retreat, — our men, on bare-back horses. 
They had been surprised while grooming their horses. I 
could not find Prince Murat ; he had run off in his shirt. It 
was pitiful to see those fine cavaliers running for their lives. 
I asked for the prince. " He is captured," they replied ; " they 
took him in his bed." And I could learn nothing further.^ 

The Emperor heard of it at 
once through Nansouty's 
aides-de-camp, and on my 
return from this miserable 
mission, I found the army 
en route to aid Murat. I 
was half dead, and my 
horse could no longer walk. 
Fortunately, my servant 
procured me two more very 
good ones, and I was re- 
-^ mounted. The Emperor 
had ordered that his hovise- 
hold and all his bureaus 
should be sent from Moscow on the 23d of October, and join 
him at Mojaisk. It is impossible to give any idea of the 
rapidity of the execution of his orders. The preparations for 
this move were completed in three hours. We went to the 
house of our princess, and there we found some good horses, 
which had been concealed in a cellar. We mounted two 
superb ones, and immediately hitched them to a fine carriage. 
While this was being done, I got the provisions ready : about 
ten loaves of sugar, a good-sized box of tea, some elegant cups, 
and a boiler. We had a carriage-load of provisions. 




1 On the ISth of October a Russian attack did in fact endanger our cavalry reserve, 
and Murat came near being captured. Next day the French army began to evacuate 
Moscow. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 233 

At three o'clock we left Moscow. It was scarcely possible 
to make our way, for the road was blocked up with carriages, 
and all the army plunderers were there in great numbers. 
When we had gone about three leagues from Moscow we 
heard a tremendous report.^ The shock was so terrible that 
the earth shook under our feet. It was said that there were 
sixty tons of powder ^ under the Kremlin, with seven trains 
of powder, and some sort of contrivance fixed on the casks. 
Our seven hundred brigands, who had been captured with 
tinder in their hands, met their just punishment. They were 
all galley-slaves. 

There was a line of carriages on the road twelve leagues 
long. By the time I had reached our first halting-place, I had 
had carriage enough. I had all our provisions put on horses, 
and burned up the carriage. After that we could pass every- 
where. It was with the greatest possible difficulty that we at 
last reached the headquarters beyond Mojaisk. The next day 
the Emperor went over the battle-field of the Moskwa, and 
groaned at seeing the dead still unburied. On the 31st of 
October, at four o'clock in the afternoon, he reached Wiazma. 
The Russian winter set in with all its severity on the 6th of 
November. The Emperor made frequent marches in the 
midst of his guard, following his carriage on foot, with an 
iron-shod cane in his hand ; and we went along the side of 
the road with the cavalry officers. In a dispirited condition 
we reached Smolensk on the 9th of November. The halting- 
places were miserably supplied ; the horses died of hunger and 
cold, and when we came to any cottages, they devoured the 
thatches. The cold was already intense, seventeen degrees 
below zero. This occasioned great losses to the army. 
Smolensk and the environs were filled with the dead. I 
took every possible care of myself. Our horses fell down 
upon the ice. As we were passing a camping-place, I got hold 
of two axes, and took the shoes off my horses, and they did 

1 There were at least five reports. Mortier had been left at Moscow with instruc. 
tions to blow up the Kremlin. The despatch announcing the execution of this order 
reached Napoieon on the 27th of October. 

2 There were much more than sixty tons — 180,000 pounds. (See the Itineraire of 
Baron Deniee.) 



234 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

not slip any more. I had furnished myself with a little pot 
for making tea. When we reached the place where the 
Emperor stopped, I built a good fire, put my general in front 
of it to thaw himself, and then put the boiler on the fire to 
melt some snow. What bad water snow makes when melted 
in the midst of smoke ! When my water was boiling, I put in 
a handful of tea. I cut up the sugar, and then the pretty 
cups did service. We had our tea every day. All the way to 
Wilna I did not want for friends ; they followed my boiler, 
and I had ten loaves of sugar. They were three captains, and 
death only separated us, which means that I alone am left 
alive. 

I followed my general, always as near as possible to the old 
guard and the Emperor. When we were attacked by the 
Russians, it was necessary to concentrate as much as possible. 
Every day the Cossacks burst out with shouts on the road, 
but, as our men were armed, they dared not approach us ; they 
merely stationed themselves along the road to see us pass. 
But they slept in good quarters, and we on the snow. We 
left Smolensk with the Emperor on the 14th of November. 
On the 22d he learned that the Cossacks had just seized upon 
the tete de pont at Borisow, and that we should have to effect 
the passage of the Beresina. We came out past the great 
bridge which the Russians had half burned ; they Avere on the 
other side waiting for us in the woods and in the snow. Though 
we had not exchanged fire once, we were already in great des- 
titution. At one o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th of No- 
vember the right-hand bridge was finished, and the Emperor 
immediately ordered the Duke of Reggio's corps and Marshal 
Ney with the cuirassiers to cross over before him. The artil- 
lery of the guard went over with their two corps, and crossed 
a marsh, which was fortunately frozen. In order to be able 
to reach a village, they drove the Russians back into the woods 
on the left, and thus gave the army time to cross, on the 27th. 
The Emperor crossed the Beresina at one o'clock in the after- 
noon, and took up his headquarters in a little hamlet. The 
army continued to cross the river during the nights of the 
27th and 28th. The Emperor sent for Marshal Davout, and 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 235 

I was appointed to guard the head of the bridge, and allow 
only the artillery and ammunition to go over. The marshal 
was on the right side and I on the left. When all the ammu- 
nition had gone over, the marshal said to me, " Come on, my 
brave fellow; come, let us rejoin the Emperor." We crossed 
the bridge and the frozen marsh; it was strong enough to 
bear our ammunition, without which all would have been lost. 

During our wearisome watch. Marshal l^ey had driven off 
the Russians, who came back again in order to cut off our 
route. Our troops had surprised them in the midst of the 
wood, and that battle cost them dear. Our brave cuirassiers 
brought them back all covered with blood; it was pitiful to 
see them. We came to a beautiful plateau. The Emperor re- 
viewed the prisoners. The snow fell so heavily that every 
one was covered with it ; we could not see one another. 

But behind us a frightful scene was being enacted. After 
we had left the bridge the Russians directed the fires of their 
batteries upon the crowd ^ which surrounded the bridges. 
From our position we coald see these unfortunate creatures 
rush for the bridges ; then the wagons overturned, and all 
were swallowed up under the ice. No one could give any 
idea of this sight. The bridges were burned the next day at 
half-past eight o'clock. Immediately after reviewing the 
prisoners, the Emperor sent for me. " Start at once ; carry 
these orders by the road to Wilna ; here is a guide upon whom 
you can rely. Make every effort to get there by daybreak to- 
morrow." He had my guide questioned. A reward was given 
him in my presence, and to each of us was given a good 
Russian horse. I set out on a fine road, white with snow, but 
where there was scarcely anything else : our horses did not 
slip. At night we came to a wood, and, as a precaution, I tied 
a strong twine string around my guide's neck, lest he should 
get away from me. He said to me, " Tac, tac^'' which meant 
"That is a good idea." At last I had the good fortune to 



1 This crowd was composed of stragglers who had refused to cross on the preced- 
ing days, and who were bivouacking on the bank. It took the Russian cannon to 
make tliem start. The precise details of the passage are to be found in the very in- 
teresting narrative of Colonels Chappelle and Chapuis. (Versailles, 1844.) 



236 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



reach lay destination without any mishap. I dismounted, and 
my guide introduced me to the mayor, who had our horses 
put in a barn. I gave him my despatches ; he offered me a 
glass of schnapps, and, first tasting it himself, he said, 
"Drink," in French. He broke the seal of my package, and 
said to me, " I could not possibly collect the immense quantity 
of provisions which your sovereign demands of me within 
three leagues of this city. There is a great deal in my dio- 
cese, but it would require a month to do it." — " That is none 
of my business." — "All right," said he, "I will do my best." 

But he had no 



time to say more. 
The man who 
had taken my 
horse to the barn 
began to scream, 
" Cossacks, Cos- 
sacks ! " I ex- 
pected to be 
captured. The 
worthy mayor led 
me out of his 
cabinet into an 
ante-chamber, 
turned suddenly 
to the right, and, 
taking me by the shoulders and telling me to stoop, pushed 
me into the oven. I had no time for reflection. The oven 
was close to the ground under a vaiilt, very long and deep ; 
it was already lighted, but was not too warm, and so I could 
stand it. I had no time to go back. I knelt down on my 
right knee, and stayed. I was in a state of great anxiety. 
This kind mayor had had the presence of mind to take some 
wood and put it in front of the entrance to the oven, so as to 
conceal me. This was no sooner done than some officers 
entered the mayor's house ; but they passed by the door of 
the oven where I was awaiting my fate. The minutes seemed 
ages ; my hair stood on end ; I thought I was lost. How 
long time seems when one is in suspense ! 




\ ^. \^ 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 237 

At last I heard all the officers leave the cabinet, and pass by 
my place of refuge. A terrible shuddering seized me. I 
thought I was lost ; but Providence watched over me. They 
had seized upon my despatches, and had gone to join their 
regiment at the end of the village so as to go to the place in- 
dicated in my despatches. (I learned afterwards that the 
Emperor had sacrificed me in order to have my despatches 
captured and deceive the enemy.) The worthy maire came 
to me : " Come out," said he, " the Kussians have gone off 
with your despatches, and to stop the advance of your army. 
Your road is open." 

When I got out of the oven, I threw my arms around that 
generous man's neck, and said to him, " I shall inform my 
sovereign of your conduct." After having taken a glass of 
schnapps, he gave me some bread, which I put into my pocket. 
I found my horse at the gate, and, starting off at a gallop, I 
flew like the wind for a league. At last I began to go more 
moderately, for my horse was giving out. I thought no more 
of my guide who was left in the village. What joy when I 
came in reach of our scouts ! I began to breathe freely, and 
cried out, " Saved, saved ! " and then I felt for my piece of 
bread, and devoured it. The army was marching silently ; 
the horses slipped, for the roads had been made smooth by 
the tramping of the troops. The cold became more and more 
intense. At last I came up to the Emperor and his staff ; I 
went up to him, hat in hand. " So here you are ! And your 
mission ? " — "' It is accomplished, sire." — " What ! they 
did not capture you ? And your despatches, where are they ? " 
— " In the hands of the Cossacks." — " What ! Come nearer. 
What do you say ? " — "I have told you the truth. When I 
reached the mayor's house I gave him my despatches, and a 
moment after the Cossacks arrived, and the mayor hid me in 
his oven." — " In his oven ? " — " Yes, sire ; and I was not 
very comfortable ; they passed right by me when they went 
into the mayor's cabinet ; they took my despatches, and ran 
off." — " It is strange, my old grumbler, how you escaped 
being captured." — "The brave mayor saved me." — "I shall 
see him, this Russian." 



238 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

He related my adventure to his generals, and said, " Set him 
down for a week's rest, and pay his expenses double." I 
rejoined General Monthyon, and found my horses and sugar 
safe. I was half dead of hunger. That night we came to 
a place about a mile from where my despatches had been 
taken by the Cossacks. He sent for the mayor, and had a 
conference with him. The mayor conducted him to within a 
league of his village, and I gave him, as he passed me, a good 
grasp of the hand. "I love the French," said he. "Farewell, 
brave officer," To this day I bless that man who saved my 
life. 

The cold continued to grow more intense ; the horses in the 
bivouacs died of hunger and cold. Every day some were left 
where we had passed the night. The roads were like glass. 
The horses fell down, and could not get up. Our worn-oub 
soldiers no longer had strength to carry their arms. The 
barrels of their guns were so cold that they stuck to their 
hands. It was twenty-eight degrees below zero. But the 
guard gave up their knapsacks and guns only with their lives. 
In order to save our lives, we had to eat the horses which fell 
upon the ice. The soldiers opened the skin with their knives, 
and took out the entrails, which they roasted on the coals, if 
they had time to make a fire, and, if not, they ate them raw. 
They devoured the horses before they died. I also ate this 
food as long as the horses lasted. As far as Wilna, we 
travelled by short stages with the Emperor. His whole 
staff marched along the sides of the road. The men of the 
demoralized army marched along like prisoners, without arms 
and without knapsacks. There was no longer any discipline 
or any human feeling for one another. Each man looked out 
for himself. Every sentiment of humanity was extinguished. 
No one would have reached out his hand to his father ; and that 
can be easily understood. For he who stooped down to help his 
fellow Avould not be able to rise again. We had to march 
right on, making faces to prevent our noses and ears from 
freezing. The men became insensible to every human feeling. 
No one even murmured against our misfortunes. The men fell 
frozen stiff all along the road. If, by chance, any of them 




"On the retreat from Moscow we marched more than forty leagues 
without knapsacks or guns." — Page 239. 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 239 

came upon a bivouac of other unfortunate creatures who were 
thawing themselves, tlie new-comers pitilessly pushed them 
aside, and took possession of their fire. The poor creatures 
would then he down to die upon the snow. One must have 
seen these horrors in order to believe them. I can certify 
that on the retreat from Moscow we marched more than forty 
leagues without knapsacks or guns. But it was at Wilna 
that we suffered most. The weather was so severe that the 
men could no longer endure it ; even the ravens froze. 

During this fearful cold, I was sent to the general who had 
charge of the trophies taken at Moscow, with an order to have 
them turned over into the lake to the right of our route. At 
the same time the treasure was abandoned to the stragglers.^ 
Those miserable creatures seized upon it, and burst open the 
casks. Three-fourths of them were frozen to death beside 
their plunder. Their burdens were so heavy that they fell. 
I rejoined my post after the greatest possible difficulty, and 
that I did so was owing to my unshod horse, which did not 
slide. I am sure that a man reduced to the same condition of 
weakness could not have been able to carry five hundred 
francs. I had seven hundred francs of my savings in my 
portmanteau. My horse was so weak that he began to go to 
sleep. I perceived this, and, taking my bag, I went to see 
my old grumblers in their bivouac, and proposed to them 
to rid me of my seven hundred francs. " Give me twenty 
francs in gold, and I will give you twenty-five francs." They 
all did so with pleasure, and I was unburdened, for I would 
have left them on the sj)ot. All my fortune now consisted of 
eighty-three napoleons, and this saved my life. 

At Smorgoni the Emperor bade farewell, before leaving the 
army, to such of the general officers as he could gather around 
him. He left at seven o'clock in the evening,- accompanied 
by Generals Duroc, Mouton, and Caulaincourt. ' We remained 
under the command of the King of Naples, disconcerted'Cnough, 

1 At Krasnoe the enemy bad already captured twelve hundred and ninety-four 
thousand francs. At Wilna notliing would have been saved but for the energy and 
honesty of a German officer (of Baden or Wiirttemberg), wlio put four hundred 
thousand francs in gold on his sleigh, and came and honestly deposited them, on the 
24th of December, at Koenigsberg, with the paymaster of the army. 



240 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

for, though he was always the first to draw a sat)re or brave 
danger, he may truly be said to have been the executioner 
of our cavalry. He kept his divisions constantly mounted all 
along the route ; but our cavalry were dying of starvation, and 
when night came, the imfortunate soldiers were not able to 
use their horses to go for forage. For himself, the King of 
Naples had twenty or thirty relays of horses, and every morn- 
ing he started out on a fresh one. He was, indeed, the 
handsomest horseman in Europe ; but without foresight, for 
it was not a question of being an intrepid soldier, but of being 
able to economize his resources. He lost for us (I heard him 
say so to Marshal Davout) forty thousand horses through his 
mismanagement. It is always wrong to blame one's officers ; 
but the Emperor could have made a better selection. There 
were among our leaders two warriors, rivals in glory, Mar- 
shal Ney and Prince Beauharnais, who saved us from the 
greatest perils by their coolness and courage. 

The King of ISTaples went on to Wilna ; he arrived there 
on the 8th of December, and we with the guard, on the 10th. 
It was night when we came to the gates of the city, which 
were barricaded with pieces of wood. We had the greatest 
difficulty in entering. I and my comrade were lodged in a 
college, well warmed. When I went to my general for my 
orders, he said, '• Be ready at four in the morning to leave the 
city, for the enemy is now arriving on the heights, and we 
shall be bombarded at daylight. Do not lose any time." As 
soon as I returned to my lodgings, I made my preparations to 
leave. I awoke my comrade, who would not listen to me. 
He had got thawed, and preferred to remain in the enemy's 
hands. At three o'clock I said to him, "Let us go." "No," 
said he, "I shall remain." — "Very well, 1 shall kill you if 
you do not follow me." — " All right ; kill me." I drew my 
sabre, and gave him some stout blows with it, thus forcing 
him to follow me. I loved my brave comrade, and would not 
leave him to the enemy. 

We had scarcely got ready to leave when the Russians 
forced the Witepsk gate ; we had barely time to get out. 
They committed the most horrible acts in the town. All the 



SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 241 

unfortunate soldiers, who were asleep in their lodgings, were 
murdered, and the streets were strewn with the dead bodies 
of Frenchmen. Here the Jews were the executioners of our 
Frenchmen. Fortunately, the intrepid Ney put a stop to the 
confusion. The right and left wings of the Russian army had 
passed by the city, and saw us go by ; they were stopped by 
a few rounds from our guns, but the rout was complete. 
When we reached the mountain of Wilna the confusion was 
at its height. All the ammunition of the army and the 
Emperor's carriages were on the ground. The soldiers 
helped themselves to gold and silver plate. All the chests 
and casks were burst open. What a quantity of plunder was 
left on that spot ! No, a thousand times no ; never was there 
such a sight I 

We marched on to Kowno, which place the King of Naples 
reached on the 11th of December, at midnight ; he left there 
on the 13th at five o'clock in the morning, and went to Gum- 
binnen with the guard. In spite of the efforts of Marshal 
Ney, seconded by General Gerard, Kowno at once fell into the 
hands of the Russians. A retreat was urgently necessary ; 
Marshal Ney effected it at nine o'clock at night, after having 
destroyed all that remained of our artillery, ammunition, and 
provisions, and having set fire to the bridges. It may be said 
in praise of Marshal Ney that he kept the enemy at bay at 
Kowno by his own bravery. I saw him take a gun and five 
men and face the eneniy.^ The country ought to be grateful 
for such men. We had the good fortune to be under the 
command of Prince Eugene, who made every effort to reunite 
our scattered forces. At Koenigsberg Ave came upon some 
Prussian sentinels, who insulted our unfortunate soldiers, who 
were without arms ; all the doors were closed against them, 
and they died on the pavement of cold and hunger. I went 
at once with my two comrades to the town-hall. No one was 
allowed to approach. I showed my decoration, my epaulets, 
and was allowed to enter through a window. Three billets 

^ It is a fact that Ney and Gerard, musket in hand, ensconced behind a palisade 
with a handful of men, for several hours prevented the passage of the bridge of 
Kowno. 



242 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



for lodgings were given me, and we had the best apartments. 
No one spoke to us ; they only stared at us. They were at 
dinner. Seeing this indifference on their part, I took out 
twenty francs, and said, " Have something got for us to eat ; 
we will give you twenty francs a day." — " All right," said the 
host. " I will have a fire made in the stove in this room, and 
give you some straw and some coverings." 

Some broth was served us immediately, and we were fed 
for thirty francs a day, not including the coffee (a franc for 

each man). This 
Prussian was kind 
enough to stable 
our horses and feed 
them. The poor 
beasts had had no 
hay and oats since 
they left Wilna ; 
how glad they were 
to bite into a bundle 
of hay ! And we, 
so happy to sleep 
on some straw in a 
warm room. 

I sent at once 
for a physician and 
bootmaker to exam- 
ine my left foot, 
which had been frozen. I had to consult a physician, so as 
to have a boot made. It was decided to have one made lined 
with rabbit skin and to leave my foot a prisoner in it, after 
having cut my boot open to dress my foot. " Make the boots 
this night," said I. " I will give you twenty francs." — 
" To-morrow, at eight o'clock, yoa shall have them." So 
then I kept my boots on. The next day the doctor and boot- 
maker came ; the former cut open my boot, and there was my 
foot, looking like a new-born baby's, — no nails, no skin, but 
in a perfect condition. " You are all right," said the doctor. 
He had the host and his wife called up. " Come," said he, 




SEVENTH NOTE-BOOK. 243 

"see a chicken's foot. I must have some linen to wrap it 
up." They gave me very willingly some fine white linen. 
My foot was put into my boot, and tightly laced. I asked the 
doctor how much I owed him. "I am paid," said he. "This 
service is free." — " But " — " No buts, if you please." 

I held out my hand to him. " I will tell you," said he, 
"how to make it well. Your foot will be very sensitive to 
heat and cold ; do not expose it to the air ; let it remain a long 
time just as it is, but when the season for strawberries comes, 
take and mash up a plateful of them, at least two or three 
pounds, and make a compress, and bind it to your foot. Con- 
tinue to do this during the strawberry season, and you will 
never feel any pain." — "Thank you, doctor. And for you, 
Mr. Hatter, here are twenty francs." — " ]S"ot so," said he. 
" My expenses only, if you please." — " How much ? " — " Ten 
francs." — " Why, you two have conspired together." — 
" Well," said two of my comrades, " let us have a rum punch." 
— "No," said they, "time is precious, we must return. Fare- 
well, brave Frenchman." 

I followed the physician's directions, and have never felt 
any inconvenience from my injury; but it cost me twelve 
francs' worth of strawberries. 

I went to the palace to take Count Monthyon's orders ; 
there I found Prince Eugene and Prince Berthier. Count 
Mouthy on said to the minister of war, " I wish to have bag- 
gage-officer Contant for my aide-de-camp, and to have his 
place filled by Lieutenant Coignet ; he is a good business man. 
I need him to rid the army of all the vehicles which are need- 
less and in the way." 

The minister immediately appointed me baggage-master 
at headquarters, December 28, 1812. I no longer feared to 
enter the line. We remained at Koenigsberg a few days 
to reunite all the remnants of that grand army, now reduced to 
a small corps. We started on the march to Berlin, which had 
to be promptly evacuated so as to fall back upon Magdeburg. 
There the army became stationary for a while. On the Elbe, 
Prince Eugene reunited the army in a fine position. Provis- 
ions were distributed every night ; he looked after everything, 



244 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

and never allowed three days to pass withont going to the 
out-posts to reconnoitre the enemy, and greeted them, every 
morning for three months, with eight pieces of cannon, fifteen 
or sixteen thousand infantry, and eight hundred cavalry. 
This little affair over, he ordered a retreat, always bringing up 
the rear himself ; he never left one man behind him. Yet he 
was always pleasant. A fine soldier on the field of honor. 
He held his position for three months without falling back. 
I received the following letter : 

I send you enclosed a copy of the Moniteur, which contains the condi- 
tions prescribed by the Emperor with regard to equipages in the army. 
The prince viceroy intends to issue an order for the day on the subject, 
but, in the mean time, you are to notify those persons who are not to liave 
carriages liereafter, tliat, on the 15th of this month, their carriages are 
to be burned. 

Signed: The general of division, cliief of the major-general's staff. 

Cte Monthyon. 

I went to the general's office, and said to him, " This is a 
strict order, general." — ''I am going to rid the army of its 
incumbrances. No exceptions are to be made. I shall give 
you some gendarmes, and all the carriages which are not 
marked with plates you are to have burned. I have got them — 
those army plunderers ; I shall take away their stolen horses, 
and turn them over to our artillery." — " You have the author- 
ity to do this, but it will be a stormy duty for me." — "I shall 
be with you to uphold you. Let them come and complain ! 
I will receive them. Leave them their pack-horses, and give 
the rest to the artillery. Go ! the prince depends upon you." 

I received orders to have plates of steel with escutcheons 
on them made for those who had a right to keep their car- 
riages ; their names and titles were engraved on the plates, 
and also their rank in the order of march. These plates cost 
three francs. The viceroy himself was not exempt from this 
order. I had barely time enough to give out my plates before 
I started off. I said to myself, "I am going to have a jolly 
time disencumbering the army." 



^.^Ki^i-=^ 



^Wf/'^O 




EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 



I AM APPOINTED CAPTAIN. CAMPAIGNS OF 1813 AND 1814. 

THE FAKEWELLS AT FONTAINEBLEAU. MY VISIT TO 

COTJLOMMIEBS. 

The general bulletined every day the news from Paris and 
from the army which was being organized. The Emperor 
arrived in order to effect a junction with the viceroy, but his 
plans miscarried : the Russians and Prussians had got ahead 
of him by forced marches, leaving us quiet in our camp. 
They passed along on our left without being perceived, over- 
took the Emperor, and offered him battle. When he found 
himself attacked, he made his arrangements for defence, and 
at the same time sent one of his aides-de-camp galloping as 
fast as possible to inform Prince Eugene that he was in close 
combat. The latter attacked the enemy's flank, and forced 
him to fall back upon the road to Lutzen. The army contin- 
ued its march on Leipzig, the corps of Marshal Ney forming 
the advance guard. On the 2d of May the memorable battle 
of Lutzen took place, the success of which was due to the 
French infantry, and chiefly to the valor of our young con- 
scripts, entirely unsupported by cavalry. It is impossible to 



246 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

give any idea of the desperate valor of our troops. Before 
Lutzen all the wounded were carried off by young girls and 
boys. Thirty couples at least went from the city to the field 
of battle, and returned with their miserable burdens, only to 
go back again immediately. I saw this done, and it ought not 
to be left unremarked ; those boys deserved laurels and the 
girls crowns. 

As for the army equipages, I had them collected together ac- 
cording to orders, with a strong guard of picked gendarmes and 
all the grooms. The Emperor warned me to come back at 
night. I had them all placed in a square, with the horses in- 
side of it, and the wagons touching one another so that it 
would be impossible for the enemy to penetrate it. 

On the 8th of May, about noon, the army entered Dresden. 
On the 12th the Emperor went to meet the King of Saxony, 
who was returning from Prague, to which he had retired, and 
conducted him to his palace amid the ringing of bells and 
firing of cannon. Before reaching Dresden, I received an 
order to go with my gendarmes and guard the bridge, allowing 
no equipages to pass but those of the staff and the canteens 
belonging to the corps. All the rest were unhitched at once, 
and the horses put aside. The most curious thing was to see 
the sergeants-major on horseback. I made those gentlemen 
dismount. Consequently, I had some horses ready harnessed, 
not to speak of wagons drawn by oxen. I turned over two 
hundred horses to the artillery, who had first choice ; the cav- 
alry took the rest of them ; the oxen were sent to the great 
pen. The Jewish gentlemen offered me gold for them, but 
I gave them some blows on their backs with my sabre-blade, 
and said, " Go take that to the kitchen." 

I performed my duty so well that it was spoken of in the 
cabinet of the minister of war, Prince Berthier and General 
Monthyon being present. He said, " This old grumbler is mak- 
ing everybody go on foot." — " True, my prince ; but he turned 
all the horses over to the artillery." — " Very well, I appoint 
him captain in the general staff of the Emperor, and he will 
continue his duties." 

That night I returned Avith my gendarmes to the hotel 




" Napoleon spent the rest of the evening seated on a stool in front of 
the tent." — Page 248. 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. ■ 247 

where my general was. He began to laugh. " Well," said 
he, " have you done a good day's work ? " — " Yes, general ; 
I have sent some good horses to the artillery." — " Let us go 
to dinner." When we were seated at table, he said, " Captain^ 
we shall mount our horses to-morrow." — " But, general, you 
said '■ captain.' " — " Yes, here is the minister's letter ; he has 
appointed you oil account of what I have told him of you. 
Come, embrace your general. And here is your nomination 
awa.iting your certificate of service." — "How glad I am!" 
— "You will be always near the Emperor. Try to procure 
some captain's epaulets at once." — " But, general, how can 
I ? " — "I have given a lace-maker permission to set up her 
shop on the principal street." — "I will go and see her, if 
you will permit me." — " Go, my brave fellow." — " General, 
in my joy at being made captain, I have forgotten to tell you 
that I sent home two peasants from Lutzen, with their wagons 
and horses. They got on their knees to me, and I asked them 
from what country they came; they answered, 'From Lutzen.' 
Then I said to them, ' Very well, I grant you your request as 
a reward for the good deeds of the young men and girls of 
your town, who took up all our wounded men. You can 
choose the best wagons in place of your own, and go along the 
cross-roads to your homes. You owe this to the good conduct 
of your young people.' Did I do right, general ? " — "I shall 
report the fact to the minister. I approve of what you have 
done. But about the other wagons ? " — "I did not have 
them burned ; I left them for the use of the town. Now, 
general, that is what I did. I did it on my own responsi- 
bility." — " You have done well." 

The next day I appeared at table with ni}^ fine epaulets, which 
cost me two hundred and twenty francs, and also some beau- 
tiful tassels on my hat. " Ah, how handsome they are ! " 
people said. " They are actually the epaulets of the guard." 

On the 19th of May the Emperor appeared before Bautzen, 
and prepared for a battle there. On the 20th of May the 
cannonading began at noon and lasted until five o'clock with- 
out interruption. Two hours after, the battle began again on 
a larger scale. The next day, the 21st of May, the enemy 



248 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

effected a retreat about six o'clock in the evening. On the 
22d of May, four o'clock in the morning, the army began to 
march in pursuit of the enemy. The Russians were over- 
whelmed by Latour-Maubourg's cavalry, after a bloody battle. 
The cavalry general, Bruyere, had his legs carried off by a 
cannon-ball. As we were in pursuit of the Russians along 
the highway, we received two shots from a cannon on our 
right. The Emperor stopped, and said to Marshal Duroc, 
" Go and see about that." They reached an eminence, and 
the marshal was struck by a ricochet-ball. The general of 
engineers who was with him was killed on the spot. Duroc 
lived a few hours. The Emperor ordered the guard to stop. 
The tents of the imperial headquarters were set up in a field 
on the right side of the road. Napoleon went inside of the 
square of the guard, and spent the rest of the evening seated 
on a stool in front of his tent, his hands clasped and his head 
bent down. We all stood around him motionless ; he pre- 
served the most mournful silence. " Poor man," said the old 
grenadiers, "he has lost his children." 

When it was quite dark the Emperor left the camp accom- 
panied by the Prince of ISTeuchatel, the Duke of Vicenza, and 
Dr. Ivan. He wanted to see Duroc, and embrace him for 
the last time. When he returned to the camp he walked up 
and down in front of his tent. ISTo one dared go near him ; 
we all stood around him with bowed heads. 

Peace was concluded on the 4th of June. The Emperor 
set out immediately for Dresden, where he occupied himself 
in active preparations for a new campaign. On the 10th of 
August the armistice was broken. The allied armies formed 
an effective force of eight hundred thousand combatants. The 
forces which were to oppose them did not number more than 
three hundred and twelve thousand men. Several engage- 
ments, in which the enemy lost seven thousand men, took 
place in the three days of the 21st, 22d, and 23d of August. 

At this time the Emperor received news from Dresden, 
which compelled him to return there in great haste. Marshal 
Gouvion St.-Cyr's corps had been left alone in charge of the 
defence of Dresden. The allies, who were ignorant of ISTapo- 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 249 

leon's return, made an attack on the 26th of August, at four 
o'clock in the afternoon. The enemy was repulsed. He lost 
four thousand men and two thousand prisoners on the first 
day. The French had about three thousand men unfit for 
service ; but five generals of the guard were wounded. The 
next day, the 27th, an attack was ordered. The rain fell in 
torrents ; but the enthusiasm of our soldiers was unabated. 
The Emperor directed all our movements. His guard was on 
a street to our left, and could not go out of the city without 
being riddled by a redoubt defended by eight hundred men 
and four pieces of cannon. 

There was no time to lose. Their shells were falling in 
the midst of the city. The Emperor called up a captain of 
fusileers of the guard named Gagnard (of Avallon). This 
brave soldier presented himself to the Emperor with his face 
a little askew. ''What have you in your cheek ? " — "My quid, 
sire." — " Ah ! you chew tobacco ? " — " Yes, sire." — " Take 
your company, and go and take that redoubt which is doing 
me so much harm." — " It shall be done." — " March along 
the palisades by the flank, then charge right on it. Let it be 
carried at once ! " 

My good comrade set off at a double quick by the right 
flank. Within a hundred feet of the barrier of the redoubt 
his company halted ; he ran to the barrier. The officer who 
held the bar of the two gates, seeing him alone, thought that 
he was going to surrender, and so did not move. My jolly 
soldier ran his sabre through his body, and opened the barrier. 
His company made two leaps into the redoubt, and forced 
them to surrender. The Emperor, who had watched the 
whole affair, said, " The redoubt is taken." The rain was 
falling in torrents. They surrendered at discretion, and my 
jolly soldier brought them to the rear, surrounded by his 
company. 

I hastened to my comrade (for we had belonged to the same 
company), I embraced him, and, taking him by the arm, I led 
him to the Emperor, who had made a sign to Gagnard to come 
to him. ''Well, I am well pleased with you. You shall be 
put with my old grumblers : your first lieutenant shall be 



250 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

made captain; your second lieutenant, lieutenant; and your 
sergeant-major, second lieutenant. Go, guard your prisoners." 
The rain was falling so heavily that the Emperor's plumes 
drooped upon his shoulders. 

As soon as the redoubt was taken, the old guard went out 
of the city, and formed a line of battle. All our troops were 
in line in the low grounds, and our right wing rested on the 
road to France. The Emperor sent us off in squads of three, 
to carry orders for the attack all along the line. I was sent 
to the division of cuirassiers. On my return from my mission, 
I went back to the Emperor. He had in his redoubt a very 
long field-glass on a pivot, and he looked through it every 
moment. His generals also looked through it, while he, with 
his small glass in his hand, watched the general movements. 
Our right wing gained some ground ; our soldiers became 
masters of the road to France ; and the Emperor took his 
pinch of snuff from the pocket of his vest. Suddenly, casting 
his eye towards the heights, he shouted, " There is Moreau ! 
That is he with a green coat on, at the head of a column with 
the emperors. Cannoneers, to your pieces ! Marksmen, look 
through the large glass ! Be quick ! When they are half 
way up the hill, they will be within range." The redoubt 
was mounted with sixteen pieces of the guard. Their round 
made the very earth shake, and the Emperor, looking through 
his small glass, said, " Moreau has fallen ! " 

A charge of the cuirassiers put the column to rout, and 
brought off the general's escort, and we learned that Moreau 
Avas dead. A colonel, who was made prisoner during the 
charge, was questioned by our Napoleon in the presence of 
Prince Berthier and Count Monthyon. He said that the 
emperors had offered to give the command to Moreau, and he 
had refused it in these words : " I do not wish to take up 
arms against my country. But you will never overcome them 
in mass. You must divide your forces into seven columns ; 
they will not be able to hold out against them all ; if they 
overthrow one, the others can then advance." At three 
o'clock in the afternoon the enemy made a hasty retreat 
through the cross-roads and narrow, almost impracticable, by- 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 251 

ways. This was a memorable victory ; but our generals had 
had enough of it. I had my place among the staff, and I 
heard all sorts of things said in conversation. They cursed 

the Emperor : " He is a ," they said, " who will have us 

all killed." I was dumb with astonishment. I said to myself^ 
''We are lost." The next day after this conversation, I made 
bold to say to my general, " I think our place is no longer 
here; we ought to go on to the Rhine by forced marches." — 
" I agree with you ; but the Emperor is obstinate : no one can 
make him listen to reason." 

The Emperor pursued the enemy's army as far as Pirna ; 
but just as he was about to enter the town, he was seized with 
vomitiiig, caused by fatigue. He was obliged to return to 
Dresden, where a little rest soon re-established him. General 
Vandamme, upon whom the Emperor relied to keep in check 
the remnant of the enemy's army, risked an engagement in 
the valleys of Toeplitz, and was defeated on the 30th of 
August. This defeat, those of Macdonald on the Katzbach 
and Oudinot in the plain of Grosbeeren, destroyed the fruits 
of the victory of Dresden. On the 14th of September we 
received the news of the defection of Bavaria, which caused 
our forces to be sent on to Leipzig. The Emperor arrived 
there on the morning of the 15th. On the 16th of October, at 
nine o'clock in the morning, the army of the enemy began the 
attack, and cannonading immediately commenced all along 
the line. The first day's fight, though marked by bloody 
engagements, left the victory undecided. 

All through the day of the 17th of October the two armies 
remained, facing each other, without any hostile demonstra- 
tions. On the 17th, at noon, the Emperor sent his aide- 
de-camp to me with an order to start with his household 
establishment, consisting of seventeen equipages and all his 
grooms, with the treasure and the charts of the army. I 
went through the city, and came to the battle-field, near a 
large garden, which was well concealed. I had orders not to 
move. So there I established myself, and put our pots on the 
fire. The next day, 18th of October, early in the morning, the 
allied army again took the initiative. From where I was, I 



252 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



saw the French divisions fall into line on the battle-field. The 
whole battle-front was before me. The heavy columns of the 
Austrians came out from the woods, and marched in columns 
upon our army. Seeing a strong division of Saxon infantry 
marching upon the enemy with twelve pieces of cannon, I 
ordered all my men to eat their soup, and hold themselves 
ready to start. I galloped over towards the line, following 
the centre of this division ; but they turned their backs upon 
the enemy, and sent a volley of shot upon us. I was so well 
mounted that I was able to get back to my post, which I ought 

not to have left. By the time I got 
back, I had recovered my presence 
of mind, and I said to the grooms, 
"Mount at once to return to Leip- 
zig." Two minutes after, an 
aide-de-camp galloped up, and 
said, " Start at once, captain. 
Go across the river ; it is the 
Emperor's order. Follow the 
boulevards and the great 
causeway." 

I started off, putting 
the head groom at the 
head of my equipages. 
^■^ ~-^ As we came near the 

boulevard, I came upon a piece of cannon drawn by four horses 
and two soldiers. "What are you doing there ? " I cried to 
them. They answered me in Italian : " They are dead " (the 
gunners). — "Take your place there in front of my wagons. 
I will save you. Now go on, gallop, take the lead ! " I felt very 
proud to have this piece to open the way. Once on the first 
boulevard, I gave orders not to allow the train to become sep- 
arated; but here a great danger awaited us. When we 
reached the second boulevard, I went to get a light from a 
bivouac fire on the lower side of the promenade, and had 
scarcely lighted my pipe when a shell burst near me. My 
horse reared. I did not lose my balance, but the balls went 
through my wagons. A terrible wind was blowing. I could 




EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 253 

not keep my hat on my head. I took it and threw it into the 
nearest wagon. Drawing my sabre and riding along the train, 
I shouted, " Grooms, keep your postilions in place ; the first 
who dismounts, blow out his brains. Have your pistols ready, 
and I will split the head of the first man who moves ; a man 
must learn how to die at his post, if need be. Save your mas- 
ter's wagons." Two of my grooms were struck ; the grape-shot 
cut off two buttons for one, and went through the coat of the 
other, and I received ten ca.nnon-balls in my wagons. But 
only one of my horses was wounded, and I found myself en- 
tirely out of danger when we came to the opening of the 
ravine which runs along the promenades and receives the 
waters of the marshes on the right side of the city. Here 
there was a small stone bridge, and we had to cross it in order 
to reach the great causeway which ends at the long bridge. 
I saw in front of me a park of artillery which was just going 
over the small bridge. I galloped up, and found the colonel 
of artillery who was taking his park over. I went up to him. 
" Colonel, in the name of the Emperor give me your protec- 
tion, and let me follow you. Here are the Emperor's wagons, 
the treasure, and the charts of the army. I have orders to 
take them over the river." — " Yes, my brave fellow, as soon 
as we have crossed, be ready, and I will leave you twenty men 
to assist you in crossing the bridge." — '' Here," said I, " is a 
piece of cannon which had been abandoned. I turn it over to 
you ready hitched." — " Go bring it here," said he to two gun- 
ners ; " I will take it along." 

I then galloped back to my train. " We are all right now," 
said I to the grooms. " We shall be able to cross. Hitch 
up." I took my stand beside the little bridge, and my 
wagons came up. As soon as the first wagons had gone over 
the bridge, I said to the gunners, ''Go back now to your 
pieces." I am thankful to those brave soldiers. 

When we came to the great causeway, I found no artillery 
there ; it had all gone galloping off to fall into position. But 
I met the ambulances of the army, commanded by a colonel of 
the Emperor's staff, who occupied the middle of the cause- 
way. My head groom said to him, " Colonel, be so good as to 



254 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

let us have a part of the road." — "I have no orders to receive 
from you." — "I will inform the officer in command," replied 
the groom. — " Let him come to me. I will wait for him." 
He came and told me ; I galloped off. When I reached the 
colonel, I begged him to give me half of the road. " Just as 
you did for the park of artillery," said I ; " you can easily 
move to the right, and we will double." — "I have no orders 
to receive from you." — " Is this your final answer, colonel ? " 
— " Yes." — " Well, then, in the name of the Emperor move to 
the right, or I shall hustle you off." I pushed him along with 
the breast of my horse, repeating, " Move to the right, I tell 
you." He took hold of his sword. "If you draw your sword, 
I will blow out your brains." He called some gendarmes to 




his aid, but they said, " Settle it with the Emperor's bag- 
gage-master yourself ; it is no concern of ours." The colonel 
still hesitated. Turning towards his ambulance, I had it 
moved aside. As I passed the colonel, he said to me, " I shall 
report your conduct to the Emperor." — " Make your report. 
I shall wait for you, and go in after you ; I give you my word 
for that." 

I crossed the long bridge ; on the left of it was a mill, and 
between that and the bridge there was a ford where the whole 
army could cross without any danger. But this river is 
walled in and very deep ; the banks are perpendicular. I 
mounted the plateau with my seventeen vehicles, and took a 
position behind that fine battery which protected me. When 
night came on, the armies were in the same position as at the 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 255 

commencement of the battle, our troops having valiantly re- 
pulsed the attacks of four united armies. But our ammuni- 
tion had become exhausted. We had fired off, during the day, 
ninety-five thousand cannon-shots, and we had left only about 
sixteen thousand. It was impossible to hold the battle-field 
much longer, and we had to resign ourselves to retreat. 

At eight o'clock in the evening the Emperor left his 
bivouac to go down into the city, and established himself in 
the inn of the "Prussian Arms," where he spent the night 
in dictating orders. I waited for him ; he did not come till 
the next day ; but Count Monthyon was despatched to give 
orders to the artillery and the troops. He sent for me. 
" Well, how about your wagons ? How did you get through 
with that job ? " — " Very well, general ; all the household 
establishment of the Emperor is safe, the treasure and the 
charts of the army. Nothing was left behind ; but I have had 
ten balls go through my wagons, and two grooms slightly 
wounded." And I related to him my adventure on the cause- 
way with the colonel. He told me that he should report it to 
the Emperor. " Do not disturb yourself," he added. " I will 
see the Emperor to-morrow morning. Let him show himself ; 
he should have been on the battle-field, picking up our brave 
wounded men who were left in the hands of the enemy. He 
will get his deserts from the Emperor. You were at your 
post, and he was not." — "But, general, I treated him severely. 
I threatened to blow out his brains. If he had been my equal 
in rank, I should have sabred him ; but I was certainly wrong 
to be so disrespectful to him." — "Never mind ; I will attend 
to it all. Go, my brave fellow, you shall not be punished. 
You were under the authority of the Emperor, and not his." 
One may imagine how relieved I was. 

About two o'clock in the morning we saw a fire on the bat- 
tle-field ; all the wagons were being burned and the caissons 
blown up. It was a frightful sight. On the 19th of Octo- 
ber, Napoleon, after a touching interview with the King of 
Saxony and his family, withdrew from Leipzig. He went by 
way of the boulevards which lead to the long bridge of the 
faubourg of Lindenau, and ordered the engineer and artillery 



256 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

ofl&cers not to have the bridge blown np until the last 
platoon had left the city, the rear-guard being obliged to 
remain twenty-four hours longer in Leipzig. But Augereau's 
sharpshooters on one hand, and the Saxon and Baden troops on 
the other firing upon the French, the sappers thought that the 
enemy's army was coming, and that the moment had come to 
fire the mine. The bridge was destroyed, all means of retreat 
was cut off from the troops of Macdonald, Lauriston, Regnier 
and Poniatowski. The last mentioned, though wounded in 
his arm, attempted to swim across the Elster, and met his 
death in a whirlpool. Marshal Macdonald was more fortunate, 
and reached the opposite shore. Twenty-three thousand 
Frenchmen who escaped the slaughter which was carried on 
in Leipzig till two o'clock in the afternoon were made pris- 
oners. Two hundred and fifty pieces of artillery fell into the 
hands of the enemy. 

The Emperor reached his headquarters greatly fatigued ; he 
had passed the night without sleep, and was utterly worn out. 
" Well, Monthyon," said he, '' where are my wagons and the 
treasure ? " — " All are safe, sire. Your ' grumbler ' stood a 
volley on the promenades." — " Send him here ; he had a 
serious affair with a colonel." — "I know it," said the general. 
" Send them both here ; let them explain the matter." I went 
into the presence of the Emperor. The general related the 
affair. " Where is your hat ? " — " Sire, I threw it into one 
of the wagons, and could not find it again." — " So you had 
some trouble on the causeway ? " — "I wanted to share the 
road with the ambulances, and the colonel told me he had no 
orders to receive from me. I said to him, 'In the name of 
the Emperor, move aside to the right.' He had done this for 
the artillery, and he was not willing to give me half of the 
road. Then I threatened him ; if he had been my equal, I 
should have sabred him." 

The Emperor, turning to the colonel, said, '"Well, and what 
have you to say ? You have barely escaped being degraded. 
You shall be put under arrest for fifteen days for having 
started without my order, and, if you are not satisfied, my 
grumbler will make it all right for you. As for you," said he 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 257 

to me, "you have done your duty. Go and look for your 
hat." 

After the Emperor had collected the shattered remnants of 
his army, he crossed the Saale on the 20th of October. The 
Emperor spent the night in a little pavilion on a hill planted 
out with vines. On the 23d, at Erfurt, King Murat parted 
from Napoleon to return to Naples. During that first day's 
march the remnant of the Saxons deserted ^ in the night, and 
also the Bavarians ; only the Poles remained faithful to us. 
The army left Erfurt the 25th of October, and went first to 
Gotha and then to Fulda. The Emperor, having been in- 
formed of a manoeuvre of the Bavarian general, Wrede, 
marched hastily to Hanau. On reaching the forest through 
which the road passes to the entrance of the city, Napoleon 
spent the night in making his arrangements. The next morn- 
ing he walked in front of his guard with his arms folded, and 
said, " I count upon you to make a road for me to Frankfort. 
Hold yourselves in readiness ; you must crush them to the 
earth. Do not encumber yourselves with prisoners ; drive 
ahead, and make them repent of barring the road against 
us. Two battalions will be enough (one of chasseurs and 
one of grenadiers), two squadrons of chasseurs and two of 
grenadiers. You will be commanded by Friant." And he 
walked around, talking to everybody ; but the stragglers met 
with a rough reception from him. All this took place in a 
thick pine forest, which concealed us from the enemy ; but 
we had to deal with a force stronger than our own. The 
Bavarian army, which was opposed to us at this place, num- 
bered more than forty thousand men. The Emperor gave the 
signal : the chasseurs started off first, the grenadiers follow- 
ing. The enemy formed an imposing body. As I saw my 
old comrades start out, I trembled. The horse grenadiers, 
with all the cavalry, began to move forward. I rode up to 
the Emperor. " Would your Majesty permit me to follow 

1 An exception should be made in the case of the Saxon cavalry, who left our 
army in tliis campaign only after having expressed their regrets at being forced to go. 
They came and solemnly shook hands with ours. Commander Thirion was a witness 
of this, and related it in his Souvenirs. (Published in 1854, in a journal at Metz, Le 
Vceu national.) 



258 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

the horse grenadiers ? " — " Go," said he ; " there will be one 
more brave fellow." 

How thankful I felt for my boldness ! I had never asked 
anything of him before ; I was too much afraid of him. Our 
old infantry grumblers went to meet that great body of men, 
who were resolutely awaiting them on the opposite side of a 
stream which crossed the highway, and into which emptied 
the waters of some large marshes. For a moment we were 
between two fires. If the enemy had taken advantage of his 
opportunity, we should have been compelled to surrender. It 
was impossible to manoeuvre, and we were plunging about in 
mire up to our knees. But we managed to turn the position. 
The chasseurs rushed upon the frightened Bavarians, who 
were unable to resist them for a moment, and were cut to 
pieces. We rushed in like lightning when the cavalry opened 
its ranks, and the most fearful carnage ensued that I ever saw 
in my life. I found myself at the extreme left of the horse 
grenadiers, and I was anxious to follow the captain. " IS'o," 
said he; "you and your horse are too small; you would im- 
pede the manoeuvre." 

I was provoked, but I controlled my temper. Looking 
round on ray left, I saw a road which ran along the city wall. 
Hanau is surrounded on the side next to where I was by a 
very high wall which conceals the houses. I galloped for- 
ward. A platoon of Bavarians came up with a fine-looking 
officer at their head. Seeing me alone, he rode up to me. I 
stopped. He attacked rae, and tried to stick his long sword 
into me. I parried his blow with the back of my great sabre 
(which I still have at my house). I fell aboard of him then, * 
and cut his head half off. He fell down in a heap. I took 
his horse by the bridle, and galloped off, and his platoon fired 
on me. I rode like the wind up to the spot where the 
Emperor was, with this beautiful Arab horse which had a tail 
like a plume. The Emperor seeing me near him, said, " So 
you have come back. Whose horse is this ? " — " Mine, sire " 
(I still had my sabre hanging) ; " I have cut off a fine officer's 
head. And I was fortunate to do it, for he was a brave 
fellow. He attacked me." — " Now you have a good horse to 




I fell aboard of him then, and cut his liead half off." — Tage 268. 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 259 

ride, get all my carriages ready ; you will leave for Frankfort 
to-night, as soon as the road is open." — " We cannot pass : 
they are piled upon one another." — "I will have the road 
cleared immediately." The aides-de-camp arrived, and said to 
his Majesty, "The victory is complete." Then he took some 
big pinches of snuff. He enjoyed one more day of happiness. 

He sent out all the stragglers to clear the high-road, so that 
his train could pass. I received orders to start with a suffi- 
cient escort. It was so dark that we could not see our way ; 
and we reached Frankfort late in the night of the 1st and 2d 
of ls"ovember. On a large square there were some piles of 
nice wood, which furnished us with good fires. The army 
made its entrance into Mayence on the 3d of November, with 
the miserable remnant of that once magnificent corps. They 
were lodged in the convents and churches. They were at- 
tacked by the yellow fever, and the dead were to be found 
lying around in great confusion. In their frightful paroxysms 
they called for their relatives, their animals. I again had this 
sad duty to perform, for I was appointed to have all the bodies 
of those men who died during the night taken away. We 
had to make the convicts put them into the big wagons, where 
they were packed away like wagon-loads of hay. At first the 
convicts refused, but they were threatened with being shot. 
The dead were turned out by tipping up the wagons. As at 
Moscow, this sad duty fell upon me. All the Emperor's equi- 
pages had gone on. I trust never to see such horrors again. 

The minor headquarters were moved to Metz, and we re- 
mained a long time in that large city. All the troops went 
into encampments, and we spent two months in inactivity. 

The enemy's columns reascended the Rhine so as to reach 
Champagne and Lorraine. On the 27th of January, 1814, 
the battle of St. Dizier took place. It was not an ordinary 
fight, but one of the most fearful and bloody battles. The 
town was riddled by the discharges of musketry, and one 
could count thousands of bullets in the shutters of the doors 
and windows ; the trees on a small square were cut to pieces ; 
all the houses were robbed, and not one of the inhabitants 
could remain in the town. 



260 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

The allies lost heavily, and were obliged to fall back to a 
position on the heights of Brienne. From this position they 
could send thunder-bolts upon us. All the efforts of our 
troops, made in several charges, were repulsed by their artil- 
lery. From the constant manoeuvring the earth had become 
softened. The day was drawing to an end, and we could not 
get out of those mucky places. Meantime the Emperor, who 
was on horseback near a garden, was preparing to attempt 
another attack. Prince Berthier saw some Cossacks on our 
right, who were carrying off a piece of cannon. '' Follow me," 
said he, " gallop." He started off like lightning ; the four 
Cossacks fled, and the unfortunate soldiers of the train 
brought back their piece. At this moment the Emperor said, 
" I am going to sleep to-night in the chateau of Brienne. I 
must put an end to this business. Put yourself at the head 
of my staff, and follow me." 

Then he rode out in front of his first line, and, halting 
before the central regiment, he said, " Soldiers, I am your 
colonel ; I shall lead you. Brienne must be taken." All the 
soldiers shouted, "Long live the Emperor!" Night was com- 
ing on ; there was no time to lose ; each soldier became equal 
to four. Our troops were so transported that the Emperor 
could not control them ; they rushed past the staff. At the 
foot of the mountain which faces the chateau and the main 
street of Brienne the slope is steep. Almost superhuman 
efforts were required to reach the spot ; but all obstacles were 
surmounted. The darkness had fallen, and the combatants 
could no longer distinguish one another. They fell upon each 
other, charging bayonets. The Russians, massed in the prin- 
cipal street, were driven out. Our troops came up so rapidly 
on the left that they dashed against General Bliicher's staff. 
He lost several officers. Among the prisoners was a nephcAv 
of M. de Hardenberg, Chancellor of Prussia. He told me that 
the field-marshal had been several times surrounded by our 
sharpshooters, and owed his escape only to his own bravery 
in self-defence and the fleetness of his horse. 

The Emperor then ordered a " left-wheel," did not halt at 
the chateau, and pursued the enemy as far as Mezieres. It 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 



261 



was pitch, dark, and a band of Cossacks who were prowling 
around in search of booty heard the tramping of the horses of 
Napoleon and his body-guard as they passed along. This 
made them run out. They rushed first upon one of the 
generals, who shouted, " Cossacks ! " and defended himself. 
One of the Cossacks seeing, a few steps from him, a horseman 
in a gray coat, fell upon him. General Corbineau first threw 
himself in the way, but without success. Colonel Gourgaud, 




who was at that moment talking with Napoleon, came to his 
defence, and, with a pistol-shot, at close aim, he struck down 
the Cossack. At the sound of the pistol, we fell upon the 
marauders. It was, indeed, time to halt. We were all worn 
out, and ready to drop from hunger. Twenty-four hours in 
the saddle without anything to eat. I can truly say the 
soldiers had overtaxed their strength : they fought one 
against four. 

From Brienne the Emperor went on to Troyes, keeping 
along the left bank of the Aube, and we halted three days for 



262 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

rest and refreshment. On the 1st of February we met the 
enemy at Champaubert. They received a good drubbing, and 
we were obliged to fall back upon the right bank of the Aube, 
at the village of La Rothiere. The fight at La Rothiere was 
the first drawn battle of the campaign. We kept the battle- 
field, but nothing more. We were not able to renew the fight 
the next day. However, the allies could not boast of having 
defeated us. On the 11th of February a battle was fought at 
Montmirail. 

Everywhere where the Emperor commanded, the enemy 
was defeated. On the 12th there was a battle at Chateau- 
Thierry ; on the 15th, at Gennevilliers. On the 17th we 
reached ISTangis, after making forced marches at night through 
by-ways, in order to get ahead of the enemy's column. We 
drove before us some heavy columns as far as Montereau. 
Here the Emperor had stationed an army corps to receive 
them. But they were not there ; a mistake had been made 
by whoever had allowed them to pass on, and the burden fell 
upon us alone. This battle took place on the 18th. Montereau 
was reduced to ruins ; cannon-balls fell all over the town 
from every direction. The Emperor, furious at not hearing 
the cannon of his army, gave the command, " Gallop." We 
were on the road to Nangis, to the left of the road to Paris. 
When we reached an eminence to the left of this road, he 
could see the enemy crossing over the bridge of Montereau. 
Furious at this disappointment, he said to Marshal Lefebvre, 
" Take all my staff. I will keep with me Monthyon, and such 
and such a one ; go at a gallop ; go seize the bridge. The 
affair has miscarried. I will fly to your aid with my old 
guard." 

So we started off. After descending to the foot of the 
mountain with this intrepid marshal, we reached the spot 
without any halting. We turned to the left, and rode at the 
utmost speed, by fours, upon the bridge. The whole of the 
rear-guard had not gone over. As we rode over the bridge, a 
large gap in it was no obstacle to us, on account of the 
rapidity with which we came. Our horses flew. I was 
mounted on the fine Arab horse captured at the battle of 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 263 

Hanau. An incident occurred here which deserves to be 
mentioned. As we were crossing the arch of the bridge 
which had been destroyed, I saw a man lying on his stomach 
alongside of the parapet, and pushing over some pieces of 
plank so as to assist us in crossing. 

At the end of the bridge, which is long, there is a street to 
the left. This faubourg being blocked up with the wagons 
belonging to the rear-guard, we had to fight our way through 
with our sabres. We swept everything before us. Those 
who escaped our fury did so by dragging themselves under 
the wagons. Our marshal fought so hard that he foamed at 
the mouth. 

When we came to a fine causeway Avhich led to St. Dizier, 
in front of an immense plain, the marshal ordered us to 
follow up our charge ; but the Emperor, seeing us engaged in 
certain peril, ordered a battalion of chasseurs to put down 
their knapsacks, and go to our assistance. This battalion 
saved us. We were driven back by a body of cavalry. The 
chasseurs lay down on their stomachs alongside the causeway, 
and the enemy's cavalry, after having passed by them, were 
surprised by a file-fire. The ground was strewn with horses 
and men, and we were enabled to reach the faubourg. During 
the charge, the Emperor, with his old guard and his artillery, 
mounted the hill which faces Montereau. In front of the 
bridge, on a wall surrounding a space of circular form and 
filled with beautiful yoke-elms, our pieces were in battery, 
and thundering upon the masses in the plain. Here it was 
that the Emperor did duty as a gunner ; he himself directed 
the pieces. They tried to make him go to the rear. "No," 
he said, "the bullet which is to kill me is not yet moulded." 
Why did he not meet death gloriously there after being 
betrayed by the man whom he had raised to such high rank ! 
He was furious at this miscarriage. We recrossed the bridges, 
and again ascended the eminence where the Emperor was. 
"The rapidity with which you made that charge," said he, 
"has given me two thousand prisoners. I feared you would 
all be captured." — " Your chasseurs saved us," said the mar- 
shal. 



264 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 



I Avas so delighted with my part in the affair, that I got 
down off my horse, and embraced him. Thanks to him, I had 
been able to use my sabre freely. 

On the 21st there was a battle at Mery-sur-Seine ; on the 28th, 

one at Sezanne ; on the 5th of March, , t ^ 

at Berry-au-Bac, where the Poles de- i^d 

feated the Cossacks ; on the 7th, at ra~^ 

Craonne. This last was terrible. 
Some considerable heights were car- 
ried by the foot chasseurs of the old 
guard and twelve hundred foot sren- 




darmes, who came from Spain, and performed prodigies of 
valor. On the 13th of March, at night, we arrived at the 
gates of Reims. 

A Russian army was occupying the city, intrenched in 
redoubts made of rubbish and well-tilled casks. The gates of 
the city were barricaded. Near the gate which faces the 
road to Paris, there was an elevated piece of ground sur- 
mounted by a windmill. Here the Emperor established his 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 265 

headquarters iu the open air. We made him a good fire. We 
could not see two steps before us, and he was so overcome by 
the day's work at Craonne, that he called for his bear-skin, 
aud stretched himself out near the nice tire, while we watched 
him in silence. The Russians began to advance about ten 
o'clock at night. They made a sortie with a fearful discharge 
of musketry on our left. The Emperor rose to his feet in a 
fury. " What is that going by ? " — " It is a hurrah, sire," 
answered his aide-de-camp, " Where is so and so ? " (He 
referred to a captain commanding a battery of sixteen pieces.) 
"Here he is, sire," some one replied. He approached the 
Emperor. " Where are your pieces ? " — " On the road." — 
'<Go bring them here." — "1 cannot pass," said he, " the artil- 
lery of the line is ahead of me." — " You must throw all 
those pieces over into the ditches. I must be in Reims by 
midnight. You are a ... if you do not go through those 
gates ! Go," said he to us, " turn them all over into the 
ditches." 

We all started off. When we reached the pieces and the 
caissons, instead of throwing them over, we moved them to 
one side, with all the gunners and the soldiers of the train. 
All this was done in a moment, and the sixteen pieces passed 
along iinder the Emperor's eyes, as he stood watching them 
with his back to the tire. They were placed in battery on the 
right of the road in a fine position, facing the gateway. We 
could not see a step before us, and the misfortune was that 
there were two pieces in battery near the gates exposed, in 
case of a sortie from the Russians ; we did not see them at 
all. Our pieces in battery let loose their volleys on the gates 
and redoubts ; the shells fell in the very centre of the city. 
During the cannonading the Emperor gave orders to the 
cuirassiers to hold themselves in readiness to enter the city, 
stating to them the streets he wished each squadron to take. 
Then he gave the signal ; the cuirassiers dashed forward to 
form a line of battle behind the pieces ; the order was given 
to cease firing, and all rushed into the city. This charge was 
so terrible that they carried everything before them, and the 
people, shut up in their houses, hearing such an uproar, put 



266 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

lights in their windows. Every place was lighted : one could 
have picked up a needle. The Emperor, at the head of his 
staff, was in Reims by midnight, and the Russians utterly 
routed; their "hurrah" had cost them dear. Our cuirassiers 
cut the soldiery down with their sabres as they liked. If the 
Emperor had been seconded in France as he was in Cham- 
pagne, the allies would have been lost. But what was to be 
done ? They were ten to one of us. We had the courage, 
but not the strength ; we were compelled to give up. 

Our misfortunes ended at Fontainebleau. We wanted to 
make a last effort, and march upon Paris ; but it was too late. 
The enemy was on the edge of the forest, and Paris had sur- 
rendered without resistance. We had to return to Fontaine- 
bleau. The Emperor was treated falsely by all the men whom 
he had raised to prominent positions ; they forced him to 
abdicate. I wanted to follow him. Count Monthyon sent to 
him, and asked him to let me go. " I cannot take him ; he is 
not one of my guard. If my signature could do him any 
good, I would appoint him chief of battalion, but it is now 
too late." Six hundred men were granted him for his 
guard. He made them take their arms, and asked them to 
volunteer. Every man walked out of the ranks, and he was 
obliged to make them go back. " I will choose. Let no one 
move." And, passing in front of the rank, he himself desig- 
nated each one, saying, "You come," and so on, for the whole 
number. This occupied a long time. Then he said, " See if 
I have made up my number." — " You need twenty more," 
said General Drouot. — "I will pick them out." 

When he had made his selection, he chose his non-commis- 
sioned officers and officers, and then re-entered the palace, 
saying to General Drouot, "You will take my old guard to 
Louis XVIII. at Paris after my departure." 

When all the preparations had been made, and all the 
equipages were ready, he, for the last time, gave the order to 
take up arms. All his old warriors having assembled in the 
grand courtyard once so brilliant, he came down the stairway, 
accompanied by his staff, and presented himself before his 
old grumblers. " Bring me my eagle ! " And, taking it in 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 267 

his arms, he gave it a farewell kiss. Oh, how touching it 
was ! Groans could be heard all up and down the ranks, and, 
I must say, I cried to see my dear Emperor start for the 
island of Elba. One great cry rose up, "We are then left to 
the mercy of the new government." If Paris had held out 
twenty-four hours, France would have been saved. But at 
that time the people of Paris did not know how to build bar- 
ricades ; they have only learned how to erect them against 
their own fellow-citizens. We had to wear the white cock- 
ade ; but I kept my old one as a souvenir. 

After the tricks we played upon the officers of the allies at 
Paris, my brother made me keep in. " Do not go out," said 
he to me, " you will be arrested." I promised him I would 
not. 

However, I often thought of my old master and mistress, 
who had been so kind to me, and I was very anxious to hear 
from them. Now, one day, having my brother's permission 
to go out, I went to the Faubourg St. Antoine, and, as I came 
near the Bastile, a big man, dressed in a blouse, who was go- 
ing by, stopped me suddenly, and said, " Here is a man who 
ought to be acquainted with Coulommiers, if I am not very 
much mistaken." — " You are not mistaken," I replied, star- 
ing at the man with wide-open eyes. " I knew M. Potier at 
Coulommiers very well." — " So it is really you, M. Coignet ? " 
— " Yes, it is I, M. Moirot ; ^ for I think I also recognize you. 
How are M. and Madame Potier ? " — " Very well. They 
have long feared you were dead, for we speak frequently of 
you." — " However, here I am, and, as you see, jolly and in 
good health." — "I see you have a cross." — " Yes, my friend ; 
and also the rank of captain. It has been a long time since 
we have seen each other ; will you let me embrace you ? " — 
"Very willingly. I have not yet recovered from the surprise 
of seeing you again, my dear Coignet. We had all so long 
believed you to be dead. But where are you staying ? " 
"With my brother at the Aguesseau Market." — "I sell my 
flour to a baker at the corner of the market." — " My brother 

1 Moirot had been a servant in the employ of M. Potier at the same time that 
Coignet was. 



268 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

supplies him." — "Now that you know my address, you must 
be so good as to come and dine with me this evening, and we 
will have a long talk together." — "I will do so with great 
pleasure." 

I went early, and Moirot told me that he no longer lived 
with M. Potier ; he had set up in business on his own account. 
He had earned in that house sixty thousand francs, and, thanks 
to his good conduct, he had married a cousin of M. Potier. 
When we parted he grasped my hand with emotion, and said, 
" Ah, how happy I shall make them to-morroAV when I tell 
them that I have seen you ! " 

He had scarcely returned to Coulommiers when he flew to 
the mill in the meadows. " What extraordinary thing has 
happened, Moirot, that you are running so fast ? " M. Potier 
called to him from a distance as soon as he saw him. " Ah, 
sir, I have found M. Coignet, the lost child !"—" What ? 
What do you say ? " — " Yes, M. Coignet. He is not dead, but 
very well — decorated — a captain ! " — " You must be mis- 
taken ; he did not know how to read or write ; he could not 
possibly occupy such a position. It is doubtless some other 
Coignet, whom you have taken for ours." — " It is he himself. 
I immediately recognized him by his big nose, his size, and 
his voice. He is a fine soldier. He told me that he had three 
horses and a servant. He is very anxious to see you. He 
has kept his word, for he has won the silver gun which he 
promised you he would bring back with him when he left 
your house." — " But it seems incredible. All this over- 
whelms me with astonishment. I must see him before I can 
believe it." Then M. Potier went to tell the good news to 
Madame, who was none the less surprised and happy to learn 
that Jean Coignet, her faithful servant, was found again ; and 
that, decorated and an officer, he had a servant and three 
horses of his own. " We must send for the dear child," said 
she to her husband. 

But the allied forces still occupied Paris, and I had to get 
a special permit from the prefect of police in order to leave 
the city. Through the. intervention of the king's procurator, 
to whom he made known his wishes on the subject, M. 



EIGHTH NO TE-BOOK. 269 

Potier succeeded iu having his request granted, and the next 
day his son came to Paris for me. I was very, very glad to 
see this young man, who said to me, " Papa and mamma sent 
me for you. Here is the permit of the prefect of police. 
We will start for Coulommiers to-morrow, servant, horses, and 
all. I am to bring everything : papa says so." My brother 
insisted upon his remaining until after dinner. No, it Avas 
impossible. By four o'clock he was up and hastening our de- 
parture. " We have fifteen long leagues to go," he kept say- 
ing, "and they expect us early." 

We travelled rapidly, and I arrived, wearing my undress 
uniform, for my servant carried the regulation dress. Pride 
of heart goes before a fall. But I had to make a good appear- 
ance. I dismounted at the mill gate. I, an old " grumbler," 
felt a quivering at my heart at the sight of all the people I 
used to know. My limbs trembled. I ran towards the house 
of my good master and mistress, ready to throw my arms 
around their necks. Madame Potier was in bed. I asked 
permission to see her. " Come in," she called to me, her 
voice trembling with emotion, "come right in. Poor child ! 
Why did you not let us hear from you, and send for some 
money ? " — "I have done very wrong, madame, but you see 
that at this moment I need nothing. You made me what I 
am. I owe my life and my fortune to you. You and M. 
Potier made a man of me." — ''Have you suffered much?" 
— " I have endured everything that it is possible for a man 
to endure." — "I am glad to see you with such a uniform on. 
You have a high rank ? " — " Captain on the Emperor's staff, 
and the first man decorated with the Legion of Honor. You 
see you have bestowed good fortune upon me." — "You won 
it yourself ; your courage carried you through. My husband 
has ordered a feast, so he can present you to our friends." 
M. Potier, on his part, welcomed me as if he had been my 
own father. He wished to see my horses. After examining 
them all, he said, " Here is one which is particularly hand- 
some ; he must have cost you a great deal." — " He cost me 
nothing but one sabre cut, which I gave to a Bavarian officer 
at the battle of Hanau. But I will tell you that story while 



270 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

we are at dinner." — " All right. After dinner we will go 
and see my children ; and to-morrow we will go out on horse- 
back, and take your servant along, for your position is altered. 
You are no longer our little Jean of old times ; you are the 
distinguished captain. I expect a great deal of pleasure in 
presenting you to my friends. They will not recognize 
you." 

So we went round to see the stout farmers, and were re- 
ceived everywhere with open arms. " I have come," said M. 
Potier, " to ask you to invite my escort and me to dine with 
you. Allow me to present a captain who has come to visit 
me." — " You are very welcome," they replied. And as I was 
a soldier, they talked a great deal about the ravages made by 
the enemy then occupying the environs of Paris. Until din- 
ner time M. Potier said nothing about me ; and it was not until 
after the first course that he asked our hosts if they did not 
know the officer he had brought with him. They all stared at 
me, but no one recognized me. " You have all seen him at 
my house, ten years ago," continued M. Potier. " He is the 
lost child whom I found at the fair at Entrains, twenty years 
ago. It is he whom I present to you to-day. He has not 
wasted his time, as you see. He said to me when we parted, 
'■ I shall try for a silver gun.' He has fulfilled his promi:se, 
for he won it the first time he stood fire ; and, as you see, he 
has the cross of honor and the rank of captain, and was 
attached to the person of the great man, now fallen. . . , 
Here is my faithful servant of fifteen years ago, let us drink 
his health." 

We drank together, and everywhere I was overwhelmed 
with attentions and kindnesses. I had to tell them my ad- 
ventures ; and many a time we spent whole hours and days, 
I telling stories and they listening, pleased and happy in one 
another's society. Those were pleasant days which I spent 
thus among all those old friends who had formerly seen me 
carrying sacks of three hundred and twenty-five pounds and 
managing the plough. 

After havinsr made, among the stout farmers and millers of 



EIGHTH NOTE-BOOK. 



271 



the neighborhood, a sort of progress which I can compare 
only to that of the " bceuf gras " at the time of the carnival, I 
took leave of all M. Potier s friends. I embraced my bene- 
factors, and returned to Paris, where I received orders to start 
immediately for my department. 





NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



ON HALF-PAT. THE HUNDRED DAYS. TEN TEARS OF 

SUPERINTENDENCE. MT MARRIAGE. THE REVOLUTION 

OF 1830. I AM APPOINTED AN OFFICER IN THE LEGION 

OF HONOR. 

The government sent us off to plant cabbages in our de- 
partments, upon half-pay — seventy-three francs a month. 
We had to be resigned to it. I set out for Auxerre, chief 
town of my department, and vegetated in that town the whole 
of the year 1814. 

I knew no one ; at last I was invited to the house of M. 
Marais, a lawyer in Eue Neuve, a true patriot. He offered 
me a home at his house. He was carrying on a suit in the 
name of my brother, against my family, who had cheated us 
out of the small property inherited from my mother. It was 
the father-in-law of M. Marais who had begun the accursed 
suit, which lasted seventeen years. 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



273 



I endured my misfortune patiently, and awaited my fate 
under the laws of man. I took up my abode in a moderate- 
sized lodging which I got rent-free ; I hired a cot-bed and a 
mattress. In this inhabited house, fortunately, there was a 
small stable for my horse. I went to see the general, and 
from there to see M. Goyon, the paymaster. On the first of 
the month we had to go and receive our seventy-three francs. 
Two and a half per cent, was deducted in advance on our 
crosses. Then they gently struck the final blow. A hundred 
and twenty-five francs a year was deducted from our Legion 
of Honor, besides the two and a half per cent., so that the 
half-pay was reduced to a third. 
This life lasted seven years. 

I took it patiently. I used ^ '■ 
to go to the Cafe Milon. One 
day I found some groups of old 
frequenters who were talking 
politics ; they came up to me to 
ask if I had heard any news. 
" None at all," I said. — " You 
do not want to talk : you are 
afraid of compromising your- 
self." — " I swear to you I know 
nothing." — " Well," said a fat 
old papa, "they say that a """'— ^ 

Capuchin has come over in disguise, and also another distin- 
guished personage whom the prefect wanted to have arrested." 
— "I do not understand you." — " You are pretending to be 
ignorant." — " This is the reason he kept his horse," said one 
of them; "he was expecting the f/ray coat.'' I withdrew, 
overwhelmed with joy, I can truly say, and I felt as if my 
Emperor was already back again. 

It was reported on the streets of Auxerre, that the Emperor 
had landed at Cannes, and was marching on to Grenoble and 
Lyons. Every one was filled with consternation ; but the 
report was made a certainty when, early in the morning, a fine 
regiment of the line, the 14th, arrived with Marshal Ney at 
its head. It was said that he was going to arrest the Em- 




274 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

peror. " It cannot be possible," said I to myself, '■' that the 
man whom I saw at Kowno take a gun, and with five men keep 
back his enemies — this marshal whom the Emperor called his 
lion — can lay hands on his sovereign." The thought of it 
made me tremble. I went everywhere where I could hear 
without being seen ; I was restless. At last the marshal went 
to the office of the prefect. A proclamation was made and 
published throughout the town. The commissioner of police, 
accompanied by a full escort, advertised that Bonaparte had 
returned, and that it was the order of the government that he 
should be arrested. And there were cries of '•' Down with 
Bonaparte I " — " Long live the King ! " My God ! how I 
suffered ! But this fine 14th of the line put the shakos on 
their bayonets, and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!" 
What could the marshal do without soldiers ? He was 
obliged to yield. 

That evening the advance guard returned to the hotel, but 
not as it had left it : white cockades in the morning and tri- 
colored ones in the evening. They took possession of the 
town-hall, and by torchlight the same commissioner went 
through the town to publish another proclamation, and shout 
at the top of his voice, " Long live the Emperor ! " I must 
say that I about ruptured my spleen. 

The next day everybody assembled on the road to St. Bris 
to see the Emperor come by in his carriage with his fine 
escort. The snowball had grown ; seven hundred of his old 
officers formed a battalion, and troops came in from every 
direction. On reaching the Place St. Etienne, the 14th of the 
line formed a square, and the Emperor reviewed it. After- 
wards he formed a circle of his officers, and, seeing me, he 
called me to him. " So you are here, old grumbler ? " — 
" Yes, sire." — " What rank did you hold on my staff ? " 
— "Baggage-master of the headquarters." — "Very well; I 
appoint you quartermaster of my palace, and baggage-master- 
general of the headquarters. Are you mounted?" — "Yes, 
sire." — "Then follow me, go and join Monthyon at Paris." 

The next day I set out for Joigny, and the day following I 
embarked with ten officers in a vessel bound for Sens. The 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



Tib 



river was covered with boats filled with troops, and we found 
some submerged at the bridges, for they had tried to proceed 
at night ; the shores were covered with snow. We landed, 
and took public coaches for Paris. I stopped at my brother's 
to make my toilet, and went to see General Monthyon. I 
informed him that the Emperor had appointed me baggage- 
master-general to the headquarters. " Hov/ glad I shall be, my 
brave fellow, to have you near me ! I shall take out your com- 
mission ; that is my business." I went to the Tuileries, and had 
myself announced. " I wish to speak to General Bertrand." — 
" I will call him," said General Drouot. The general came. 




" Already, my brave fellow ? You took the post, then ? " 
— "I came as quickly as possible ; I ask leave for six days, 
general" — '•' Granted. Go." 

That same evening I left Paris for Auxerre, and reached 
there Saturday morning. In those days people walked out 
to the Arquebuse on Sundays. About four o'clock I went 
out, dressed in full uniform, to show myself as though I had 
not gone away from Auxerre. On Monday I went to see my 
lawyer, who said to n^e, "Your suit is suspended, like many 
others." — " But I must go away ; I must be in Paris in six 
days." — " Well, it will have to remain suspended." I set 
off to go to my post. I went to my brother's house. The 
next day I went to see my general. " Here you are, my 



276 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

brave fellow ! And here is your commission ; you have a 
right to lodging with your servant and horses. You must go 
find the mayor of your brother's arro7idissem,ent, so that you 
can be near the Tuileries. You must be mounted ; you must 
have two horses, and then you have the right, as one of the 
' sacred battalion,' to three hundred francs, which will be paid 
you at No. 3 Place Vendome. Every day you will come to 
take my orders, and go on to the Tuileries at noon." 

The next day I went to No. 3 Place Vendome to get my 
three hundred francs gratuity of the "sacred battalion." 
When I went to the captain who commanded the third com- 
pany of officers, for the inferior officers were only soldiers (it 
was necessary to be a superior officer to be captain of a com-, 
pany of a hundred officers) : " I have come, captain, to claim 
the three hundred francs due me." — "What is your name ?" 

— " Coignet." He looked over his book, and found my name. 
"I have no more money ; you must do as the rest have done." 

— " But you have my money." — " I tell you the pay has been 
stopped." — " All right, captain, I will see about that." 

This man was an old emigre who had offered to take a posi- 
tion under the Emperor, and who had been granted one. I 
informed General Bertrand of my disappointment. " Is it pos- 
sible that that old cavalier would not pay you ? " — " He would 
not, indeed, general." — "Very well, I will give you a billet- 
doux ijpoulei) for him." 

I went back to him with the letter. " Captain, you will 
not need a spit to roast this chicken ij)o\det) ; it is ready 
picked." His aide-de-camp was near him ; he read the letter, 
and, turning to me said, " Why did you go to the Tuileries ? 
It was not your place." — " Pardon me, captain, I am baggage- 
master-general and quartermaster of the palace ; I have charge 
of the quartering of the army. I promise to lodge you as 
you have received me. My three hundred francs, if you 
please." I was paid immediately, and carried my money to 
my brother. I went for my coupons, so that I could draw my 
rations of forage from the contractor, who cashed them for 
me. I had a right to three rations a day ; this, added to my 
monthly allowance of three hundred francs, made me in this 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



277 



short while worth eight liundred francs. Then I had to be 
mounted, so I set out to look for some horses. I found two 
near the Carrousel, at the house of a royalist who had run away. 
I bought them for two thousand seven hundred francs, and 
they were very handsome. My brother lent me two thousand 
five hundred francs. 

I went immediately to my brother's notary, who made out 
a contract by which I acknowledged that I owed my brother 
two thousand live hundred francs. While the contract was 
being drawn up, I made my will, which I placed in the hands 
of the notary. My 
brother scolded me 
when he saw the copy 
of the contract. 
" That's all right," 
said I, " and if I die 
in this campaign, you 
will find my will in the 
hands of your notary." 

I busied myself in 
looking up a good serv- 
ant, and having har- 
ness made for my two 
horses. When all this 
was done, I went to see 
my general on horse- 
back, with my servant riding behind me, like a commandant 
going his rounds. I entered Count Monthyon's hotel, and 
said, '" General, see, I am mounted." — "Already!" said he, 
"that is the way you do things; and two fine horses!" — 
" My war-horse cost me eighteen hundred francs, and my serv- 
ant's horse nine hundred francs." — "You are better mounted 
than I am. I am very glad, my good fellow; now you are 
ready to start on a campaign. Are they paid for ? " — " Yes ; 
my brother lent me the money." 

The good general frequently came to my brother's to take 
me out for an airing, either on horseback or in a carriage, and 
invited me to dine at his house. He remembered the good 
fires I made for him on the retreat from Moscow. 




278 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

All ray own preparations for the campaign being made, I set 
to work to arrange the order of march for the equipages accord- 
ing to their rank, so as to avoid confusion on the marches, as 
well as in the distributions. This precaution was useful to 
me, and I was congratulated upon it later on. 

Preparations for the Champ de Mai were going on in the 
Champ de Mars in front of the fa9ade of the Ecole Militaire. 
The Emperor, in full dress, surrounded by his staff, came out 
to receive the deputies and the peers of France. When the 
reception was over the Emperor descended from his royal 
amphitheatre to go to another in the centre of the Champ de 
Mars. We had the greatest possible difficulty in getting 
through the crowd, which was so great that it had to be 
driven back in order to allow us to pass. And there, with his 
staff all standing round him, the Emperor made a speech. He 
had the eagles brought to him to distribute to the army and 
the national guard. With that stentorian voice of his, he 
cried to them, " Swear to defend your eagles ! Do you swear 
it ? " he repeated. But the vows were made without warmth ; 
there was but little enthusiasm : the shouts were not like 
those of Austerlitz and Wagram, and the Emperor perceived 
it. 

On my return from this grand ceremony, I made my prepa- 
rations for the departure of the army. I left Paris on the 4th 
of June, for Soissons, and from there I went to Avesnes, 
where I was to await new orders. The Emperor arrived on 
the 13th, and only remained there a short time. He was to 
sleep at Laon. On the 14th of June he ordered forced 
marches. When we had entered the fertile countiy of Bel- 
gium, the columns were obliged to clear roads for themselves 
through the high rye. The front ranks could not advance. 
After being trodden down, it was only fit for straw, in which 
the cavalry stumbled. That was one of our misfortunes. 

In order to gain a footing in the plain of Fleurus, the 
Emperor went on in advance, following the main road with 
his staff, and a squadron of horse-grenadiers. He talked 
awhile with an aide-de-camp. He looked over to his left, took 
his small glass, and examined attentively a perpendicular 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 279 

eminence far off from the road, in an immense plain. He saw 
some cavalry dismomited, and said, " That is not my cavalry, 
is it ? I must find out. Send me an officer of my body-guard, 
and let him go at once and reconnoitre that troop." A sign 
was made to me to come to the Emperor. " It is you, is it ? " 

— "Yes, sire." — "Gallop off, and reconnoitre the troop on 
that mountain. Do you see them from here ? " — " Yes, sire." 

— " Do not get caught." I galloped off. When I reached 
the foot of the steep mountain, I saw three of the officers 
mount their horses, and I thought I saw lances ; but I was not 
sure. I continued to ascend slowly, and I saw that their 
soldiers were going round the mountain to cut off my retreat. 
Half-way up the mountain I saw my three jolly fellows 
coming down corkscrew fashion. They jostled against each 
other, and could only come very slowly. I stopped short. I 
saw they were enemies. Then I saluted them politely, and 
began to descend. All three of them also came on down the 
mountain. I was not afraid of them, but I was of the others, 
who had gone round the road to cut me off. I looked to my 
left, but saw no one. I reached the foot of the mountain, the 
officers following me. 

When I had fairly reached the plain, I turned towards 
them, and made them a low bow, seeing that my road was 
open. I said to my fine war-horse, " Gently, Coco " (that was 
the name of the beautiful animal). I was ahead, when one of 
them undertook to follow me ; the other two stood still. He 
gained on me, and this encouraged him. When I saw that he 
had gone over half the distance between the mountain and 
the staff of the Emperor (wdio was watching my movements, 
and, seeing me so closely pressed, sent two horse-grenadiers to 
my assistance), I patted my horse to put him in a good 
humor. I looked behind, and saw that I had time enough to 
make a left-wheel, and attack him. He shouted to me, 
" Surrender." And I to him also, " Surrender." Wheeling 
to the left, I fell upon him. Seeing me make this sudden 
wheel-about, he yielded, but it was too late ; the wine was 
poured out, and he had to drink it. He had scarcely turned 
to gallop off in retreat, when I was at his side, dealing him a 



280 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

blow with the point of my sabre. He fell head foremost to 
the ground, stone dead. Leaving my sabre hanging at my 
wrist, I seized his horse, and rode proudly back to the 
Emperor. " Well, old grumbler, I thought you would be 
captured. Who showed you how to make such a turn ? " — 
"One of your picked gendarmes, in the Eussian campaign." — 
" You have done well, and you are well mounted. Did you see 
that officer ? " — " He seemed to be a blond man." — " He was 
a coward, whoever he was : he came out to fight, and allowed 
himself to be killed like a baby. One sabre-cut like that is 
no credit to any one. You grumble over it, I know." — " Yes, 
sire ; I ought to have been able to take his horse by the bridle, 
and lead him to you." He smiled at this, and I led the horse 
forward. (Some one said) " It was such and such an English 
regiment." All praised my horse, and an officer begged me 
to let him have it. " Give fifteen napoleons to my servant, 
twenty francs to the grenadiers, and take it." 

The Emperor said to the marshal, " Make a note of this old 
grumbler. After the campaign I will see about him." 

It was, I believe, on the 14th that we met a large body of 
the Prussian advance-guard beyond Gilly. The cuirassiers 
went through the town at such speed that the horses' shoes 
flew over the houses. The Emperor watched them go through 
before leaving. It was a steep ascent, but it is impossible to 
imagine the rapidity with which that body of cavalry could 
go over a mountain. Our intrepid cuirassiers fell upon the 
Prussians, and sabred them without taking any prisoners. 
They were driven back upon their front with considerable 
loss. The campaign had begun. 

Our troops encamped at the entrance to the plain of 
Charleroi, which is called Fleurus. The enemy could not see 
us, and did not think that the army had become vmited. Our 
Emperor also thought that they had not collected their forces, 
and on the 15th, during the night, he took command of the 
army in person. Early in the morning he sent in every direc- 
tion to reconnoitre the enemy's position. Only the grand 
marshal, Count Monthyon, and I remained with him. He Avas 
at a village on the left of the plain, at the foot of a wind- 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 281 

mill, and the Prussian armies were mostly on his right, con- 
cealed by gardens, skirts of woods, and farms. " Their 
position is concealed ; we cannot see them," said all the offi- 
cers when they returned. The order was given for a general 
attack. The Emperor went up into the windmill, and, look- 
ing through a hole, watched all the movements. The grand 
marshal said to him, "There goes the corps of Marshal 
Gerard." — " Send Gerard up here." He came up to the 
Emperor. "Gerard," said he, "your Bourmont, for whom 
you said you would be answerable to me, has gone over to the 
enemy." And pointing through a hole in the mill to a steeple 
on the right, "You must go toward that steeple, and drive 







the Prussians to extremities. I will sustain you. Grouchy 
has my orders." 

All the officers of the staff started off, and did not return. 
Then the Emperor sent me to General Gerard. " Go to the 
steeple and find Gerard. Wait his orders to return." I gal- 
loped off. This was not an easy task ; I had to take many 
turns. The space was covered with gardens. I did not know 
which way to go. However, I found the brave general at last, 
fighting hand to hand, covered with mud. I went up to him. 
" The Emperor sent me to you, general." — " Go tell the Em- 
peror that if he will send me re-enforcements, the Prussians 
will be beaten. Tell him that I have lost half my soldiers, but 
that, if I am sustained, the victory is assured." 



282 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

This was not a battle, it was a butchery. A charge was 
beaten on all sides. There was but one shout, " Forward ! " 
I carried the report of it to the Emperor. After hearing me, 
he said, '' Ah ! if I had four lieutenants like Gerard, the 
Prussians would be lost." I had returned long before those 
whom the Emperor had sent off before he sent me. Some 
came back in the evening, after the battle was won ; six did 
not appear at all. The Emperor rubbed his hands after I 
made my report, and made me describe all the places through 
which I had passed. There were only orchards, big trees, and 
farms. " Is that so ? " said he. " We thought there were 
woods there." — " ISTo, sire ; the roads are only concealed by 
the foliage." All our columns were now advancing ; the 
victory was decided. The Emperor said to us, " To horse, and 
gallop ! there are my columns coming up the hill." So off 
we started. Across the plain there was a ditch three or four 
feet wide. The Emperor's horse halted for a moment, my 
horse leaped over, and there I was in front of his Majesty, 
carried on by his fleetness. I feared I should be scolded for 
my boldness, but I was not. When we reached the top of 
the hill the Emperor looked at me, and said, " If your horse 
were a stallion, I should take him." 

Some cannon-balls were still falling at the foot of the hill, 
but our columns defeated the Prussians in the low ground on 
the right. This was kept up till night. The victory was 
complete. The Emperor retired at a very late hour from the 
battle-field, and returned to the village near the windmill. 
Thence he sent out officers in every direction. Count Mon- 
thyon dictated the despatches by order of the major-general, 
and the officers on diity started out at once. We were all on 
duty that night ; no one had any rest. 

The next day, June 17, 1815, at three o'clock in the morn- 
ing, orders to advance were sent out. At seven o'clock our 
columns had come up. At that hour there were only the 
English in front of us. The Emperor sent an officer of the 
engineer corps to reconnoitre their position on the heights of 
Belle-Alliance, and to see if they were fortified. He returned, 
and said that he had seen nothing. Marshal JSTey came up, 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 283 

and was rebuked for not having followed up tlie English, for 
there were only some " sans-culottes " ^ at the Quatre Bras. 
" Go, marshal, and take possession of the heights ; the enemy 
are backed up against the woods. When I receive news from 
Grouchy, I will give you the order for the attack." The mar- 
shal started, and the Emperor went up on an eminence near a 
chateau by the roadside. From this point he uncovered his 
right wing just at the strongest part of the English army. 
I was sent for, and orders given me to go a little to the right 
of the road to Brussels, to make sure of the position of the 
left wing of the English which rested on the wood. I was 
obliged, in descending, to go alongside of the road on account 
of a broad and deep ravine which I could not cross, and a hill 
where the artillery of the guard was in battery. I must men- 
tion that we were drenched with rain, and the ground was 
very muddy ; our artillery could not manoeuvre. I passed 
near them, and when I came in front of that immense ravine, 
I saw some columns of infantry closely massed in the lower 
part of it. I crossed it, going a little to the right, and came 
upon an isolated barrack, a little way from the road. I stopped 
to look. On my right I saw some large rye-fields and their 
pieces in battery, but no one was moving. For a moment I 
did a little swaggering. I went near the rye-fields, and saw a 
body of cavalry behind them. I had seen enough of them. 
It appeared that it did not suit them to see me come near 
them : they saluted me with three shots from their cannon. 
I went back to tell the Emperor that on the right their cavalry 
was concealed behind the rye-fields, their infantry masked 
by the ravine, and that a battery had fired on me. 

The Emperor gave orders for a general attack. Marshal 
Ney performed prodigies of courage and daring. This in- 
trepid marshal had in front of him a formidable position. He 
could not take it. Every few moments he sent to the Emperor 
for re-enforcements so as to finish the work, he said. At last, 
in the evening, he received some cavalry, who put the English 
to rout, but without positive success. One more effort, and 
they would have been overthrown in the forest. Our centre 

1 The Scotch, thus called on account of their naked legs. 



284 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

was making progress. They liad passed the barracks in spite 
of the grape-shot which fell into the ranks. We knew not 
the misfortunes which awaited us. 

An officer came up from our right wing. He told the 
Emperor that our soldiers were sounding a retreat. " You 
are mistaken," said he, ''it is Grouchy coming." He sent off 
immediately in that direction to assure himself of the fact. 
The officer returned, and confirmed the report. There was no 
means of holding out. The Emperor, seeing himself out- 
flanked, took his guard, and marched it forward to the centre 
of his army in close columns. Followed by his whole staff, 
he formed the battalions into squares. Having gone through 
this manoeuvre, he spurred his horse forward so as to enter 
the square commanded by Cambronne ; but all his generals 
surrounded him. " What are you doing ? " they cried. " Is 
it not enough for them to have gained the victory ? " His 
design was to have himself killed. Why did they not allow 
him to accomplish it ? They would have spared him much 
suffering, and at least we should have died at his . side ; but 
the great dignitaries who surrounded him were not willing to 
make such a sacrifice. However, I ought to say that we all 
surrounded him, and compelled him to retire. 

We had the greatest possible diffixCulty in getting away. 
We could not make way through the panic-stricken multitude. 
And it was still worse when we arrived at Jemmapes. The 
confusion lasted a considerable length of time. Nothing 
could calm them : they would listen to no one ; the horsemen 
shot their horses ; the foot-soldiers shot themselves to avoid 
falling into the hands of the enemy ; everything went pell- 
melL I found myself taking part m another rout as complete 
as that of Moscow. "We are betrayed," they cried. This 
great blow came upon us on account of our right wing being 
broken in. The Emperor did not know the extent of the 
disaster till he reached Jemmapes. 

The Emperor left Jemmapes, and rode to Charleroi, where 
he arrived between four and five o'clock in the morning. He 
left orders that all of his equipages should fall back, part by 
way of Avesnes, part by way of Philippeville, to Laon, which 




"I ought to say that we all surroumled him and compelled him to 
retire." — Page 284. 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



285 



he reached about ten o'clock. Officers were also sent to Mar- 
shal Grouchy with orders for him to come on to Laon. The 
Emperor dismounted at the foot of the city. 

After he had given his orders, and made out his bulletin 
for Paris, an officer arrived who announced a column. The 
Emperor sent to reconnoitre it. It was the old guard return- 
ing in good order from the battle-field. When the Emperor 
heard this news, he no longer wished to start for Paris ; but 




he was compelled to do so by the majority of his generals. 
An old open carriage had been got ready for him, and some 
carts for his staff. One of his superior officers came, and 
gave orders to Colonel Boissy to take command of the place, 
and collect all the stragglers. The national guard was coming 
in from every direction. At last the Emperor came out into 
the great court where we were all together in the greatest 
state of anxiety. He asked for a glass of wine; it was 
handed to him on a large plate ; he drank it, then saluted us, 
and started off. We were never to see him again. 



THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

We remained standing in the courtyard without speaking to 
one another. We reascended that steep hill in profound silence, 
worn out with hunger and fatigue. Our poor horses could 
scarcely go up, having galloped for twenty-four hours. Men 
and horses fell from want of food, not knowing what would 
become of them. ISTo one took any account of us. We were, 
indeed, miserable. A few brave soldiers, who had not thrown 
away their arms, were gathered together. The greater portion 
of the soldiers had abandoned them in order to save their 
lives, leaving the main roads, and running across the fields. 
When the officers of the headquarters were collected together 
with Count Monthyon at their head, they started for Avesnes 
in a dispirited condition. By forced marches we reached the 
forest of Villers-Cotterets. We spent the night at the house 
of a physician on the edge of the forest. Count Monthyon 
said to me, "My good fellow, you must not unsaddle your 
horses, for the enemy may surprise us during the night. I 
am sure they are in pursuit of us, and we must not undress." 
I put up all our horses. Fortunately, I found some hay in 
the house. The servants were stationed in the stable with 
the bridles on their arms. I set one on guard to warn the 
general, and returned to his side. After supper I begged the 
general to take off his boots to rest himself. " No," said he. 
I pulled out a mattress, " Lie down there ; you will rest better 
than on a chair. I will go and watch with the servants. Do 
not worry, and I will call you in time." At three o'clock in 
the morning the Prussians attacked Villers-Cotterets. They 
came out upon the main road, having turned suddenly to the 
right so as to shut us up in the city. This was what saved 
us. They fell upon our train, and made fearful havoc. At 
this noise I ordered the horses to be bridled and brought out, 
and ran to inform the general : " To horse, general ! the enemy 
is in the city." 

That time the servants did their duty quickly, I assure you. 
The horses were at the door as soon as I was. The general 
came down the stairs, a.nd mounted his horse as I did mine. 
"This way," said he to us, " follow me." He went to the left 
into a narrow road, concealed from view, which ran along the 



ii^2i 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. ^•#287 

edge of the forest and the beautiful plain. Three minutes 
later and we should have been captured. Two gun-shots 
behind us were platoons of foot-soldiers, placing sentinels 
everywhere. When we reached the end of the grand avenue, 
the general dismounted to breathe and think. After that we 
started for Meaux. Desolation reigned everywhere. Our 
deserters were coming in, most of them without arms. It 
was a heart-breaking sight. Meaux was so filled with troops 
that we had to go on to Claye ; there we found the country 
deserted. All the inhabitants had moved out. It seemed as 
though the enemy had passed through it. Every one was on 
the way to Paris with his valuables. The roads were blocked 
up with carriages. They had turned their houses upside 
down. The enemy could not have caused greater destruction. 
We reached Paris at the gate of St. Denis. All the barriers 
had been barricaded. The troops were encamped in the plain 
of Les Vertus, and at the hills of St. Chaumont. The head- 
quarters was at the village of Villette, where Marshal Davout 
was stationed. 

Our whole army was then reunited on the north of Paris, 
in that plain of Les Vertus, and there Marshal Grouchy 
arrived with his army corps, which had not suffered. We 
were told that he had thirty thousand men. The chief head- 
quarters had been established at Villette, near Marshal Davout. 
As I was baggage-master, I had the right to present myself 
every day to receive orders, and be present at the distributions. 
Consequently, I saw all the deputations arrive : generals and 
great personages in citizens' dress. Grand conferences were 
held night and day. I ought to say, for the credit of the 
Parisians, that we lacked for nothing. They sent everything, 
even Bologna sausage and white bread for the staff. About 
four or five o'clock in the morning I saw the brave national 
guards mount the walls which enclose Paris, turn to the left 
of the village so as not to be stopped, and advance to the line 
to exchange fire with the Prussians. Every day I witnessed 
this same movement. On the 29th or 30th of June, I said to 
my servant, " Give my horse some hay, and saddle him. I 
am going to see the national guards." I started off well 



288 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

armed. I had two pistols in my holster. They were rifled. 
A wooden hammer was necessary in loading them, and they 
shot at long range. They had cost me a hundred francs. 

When I reached the plain of Les Vertus, I had the old 
guard on my right, and the national guards on my left. I 
went as far as the last of our sentinels who were in the first 
line supporting arms. I spoke to them. They were furious 
at their inaction. " No orders," they said; "the national guards 
do the firing, and we, we support arms. We are betrayed, 
captain." — " No, my children, you will receive your orders ; 
have patience." — " But we are forbidden to fire." — " See 
here, brave soldiers, I want to pass the line. I see down 
there a Prussian officer who is taking on great airs ; I should 
like to give him a little reproof. If you will permit me to 
pass, you need fear nothing from me ; I am not going over to 
the enemy." — " Pass, captain." 

I saw behind me four fine-looking men, who were approaching 
me. One of them came near me, and said, "Are you going 
over to the line for the fun of it ? " — " Just as you are doing, 
I think." — "That is true," said he to me, "you are well 
mounted." — " So are you, sir." The other three turned to 
the right. " What are you looking at over there on the Prus- 
sian line ? " said he to me. " See that officer down there who 
is making his horse prance. I want to make him a special 
visit ; he displeases me." — " You cannot approach him with- 
out danger." — "I know my trade. I shall make him cross 
his line, and make him angry, if possible. If he gets angry, 
he is mine. I beg you, sir, not to follow me ; you will spoil 
my manoeuvre. Fall back farther." — "Very well, let us see." 

I started off, having thoroughly determined what to do. 
When I reached the centre of the space between the two 
lines, he saw that I was advancing upon him. He thought 
that I would doubtless cross over to his side, so he crossed 
the line so as to get ahead of me. A hundred paces from his 
own lines he stopped and awaited me. Having gone the 
same distance, I also halted, and, drawing out my pistol, I 
sent a ball past his ears. He got angry, and started in pur- 
suit of me. I wheeled about. He was no longer following 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 289 

me, but was returning. Then I made my left-wheel, and 
rushed upon him. Seeing me again, he came towards me. I 
sent him a second pistol-shot. He became more angry, and 
charged me. I wheeled about and ran off. He pursued me 
to the centre of the space between the lines, in a fury. I 
made an about-face, and fell upon him. He came close to me, 
and tried to stick his sabre into me. I struck his sabre up 
above his head, and, by the same movement, I brought my 
sabre down upon his face with such force that his nose went 
down to find his chin. He fell stone-dead. 

I seized his horse, and proudly returned to my private sol- 
diers, who crowded round me. The fine-looking man who had 
watched all my movements came galloping up to me, and 
said, ''•' I am delighted ; this is one of your tricks ; you know 
how to do it well ; it is not your first trial. I beg you to tell 
me your name." — "For what, if you please?" — "I have 
friends at Paris ; I should like to tell them about this little 
play that I have seen. To what corps do you belong ? " — 
'• To the Emperor's staff." — " What is your name ? " — 
" Coignet." — " And your Christian names ? " — " Jean 
Roch." — "■ And your rank ? " — " Captain." He took out his 
memorandum-book, and wrote it down. He told me his 
name : Boray or Bory. He went over to the right of the St. 
Chaumont hills where the old guard was stationed, and I 
returned to headquarters, leading my horse, and very proud 
of my capture. Every one stared at me. An officer asked 
me where I got my horse. " It is a horse which deserted and 
came over to our side ; I caught him as he was going by." — 
" Good capture," said he. 

When I reached my lodgings, I had some hay given io my 
horse, and examined my prize. I found a small portmanteau 
with some fine linen and other things necessary to an officer. 
I had the saddle taken off the horse, and sold him ; as I had 
three horses, they were sufficient. I went to headquarters to 
resume my office manners. I found a great many people with 
the marshal, some going, some coming. There were confer- 
ences all night long. The next day, July 1, we received 
orders to move to the south of Paris, behind the Invalides, 



290 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

where the army was reunited and well intrenched. I went 
there after having gone to receive my general's orders. He 
sent me off with his aide-de-camp and his horses. ''Go/' 
said he ; '' Paris has surrendered. The enemy is about to take 
possession of it. Lose no time ; all the officers are to leave 
Paris ; you will be arrested. Go join the army which is col- 
lected on the side next the Barriere d'Enfer, and there you 
will receive orders to cross the Loire at Orleans." 

When I reached the Barriere d'Enfer, where the army had 
collected, I found Marshal Davout on foot, his arms folded, 
gazing at that splendid army, who were shouting, " Forward." 




He, silent, not speaking one word, walked up and down along 
the fortifications, deaf to the supplications of the army who 
wished to advance upon the enemy. The movement began, 
our right wing moving toward Tours, and our left wing toward 
Orleans. The enemy immediately became our rear-guard, and 
they had the cruelty to seize some men who were rejoining 
their corps, and rob them, as well as the officers. At our first 
halting-place they pressed so closely upon us that the army 
wheeled about, and attacked their advance-guard; they were 
driven back. After this they were not so insolent, and fol- 
lowed us only at a distance. 

We reached Orleans without being pursued. We crossed 
the bridge over the Loire, and established the headquarters in 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 291 

a large faubourg which seemed to be almost entirely deserted. 
The inhabitants had gone into the city, and we suffered for 
everything. When we were installed, we undertook to barri- 
cade the bridge in the centre, with enormous posts and two 
gates to resist a heavy attack ; then the tete-de-pont was put 
in a condition of defence, and made to bristle with pieces of 
artillery. We remained quiet for several days ; the two 
enormous gates opened voluntarily to those who went in 
search of provisions, and we were obliged to go to the city for 
them. We found a boarding-house at the entrance of the 
principal street, and every day the gates had to be opened ; 
but this did not last long. The great marshal was seen be- 
hind his batteries, his arms behind him, and his face anxious. 
No one spoke to him. He was no longer the same grand sol- 
dier whom I had formerly seen so brilliantly daring on the 
field of battle ; all the officers left him alone. 

One morning, as usual, we started out at nine o'clock to go 
to our boarding-house for breakfast. The rascal came to us, 
and said, " I cannot serve you. I have orders to be ready to 
receive the allies who are at the gates and are about to enter ; the 
authorities have sent them the keys of the city." At the same 
moment there was a shout of " The Cossacks ! " We went out 
with empty stomachs, and had scarcely got into the streets, 
when we saw the cavalry marching slowly in line of battle, 
and an immense crowd of people of both sexes, men and 
women. This sight made us tremble. All the women, richly 
dressed, with little white flags in one hand and white hand- 
kerchiefs in the other, formed the van, shouting, " Long live 
our good allies ! " But the crowd was driven along by the 
cavalry close to the bridge and past our gates. Then the 
enemy stationed sentinels ; the gates were closed, and each 
party was left to itself on either side of the palisades. As 
for the white handkerchiefs and little flags, our soldiers 
seized them all. The marshal did not utter a word ; every- 
thing went off as quietly as you please. Pains and pleas- 
ures are all over in time. 

We received orders to move the headquarters to Bourges, 
and Marshal Davout established himself there ; but we did 



292 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

not remain there long. Marshal Macdonald arrived with a 
brilliant staff, the chief of which was Count Hulot, who had 
only one arm. I went every day to the marshal for his 
orders, and then to the post to carry the despatches. I 
always went late, and found the marshal at table. One of 
his aides-de-camp came out, and asked me for my package of 
despatches. " I do not know you," said I ; *■ tell the marshal 
that his baggage-master is waiting for him at the door." 
— " But the marshal is at table." — "I tell you I do not know 
you." He went to inform the marshal of my refusal to 
deliver the papers. " Send him in." I went in, hat in hand. 
He rose to receive his package, and said to me, " You know 
your duty ; you were perfectly right to answer my aide-de- 
camp as you did. I thank you, my good fellow ; this shall 
not happen again. Let him come in whenever he brings my 
despatches ; he should deliver them only to me." 

In 1815 each day was only a repetition of the last. The 
army was disbanded and new regiments formed which bore 
the names of the several departments. I was appointed to 
have the rations distributed each day, and during the time I 
stayed at Bourges I had two hundred thousand rations dis- 
tributed to the different ranks. Often I could only give out 
half rations. Then I had to call out some gendarmes to keep 
order. 

The marshal kept me with him as long as he could ; but it 
was intimated to him that an order would be sent to retire 
me on half-pay. On the 16th of January, 1816, the marshal 
sent for me. " I was told to come ; that you wished to speak 
to me." — " Yes, my brave fellow. I am obliged to send you 
home on half-pay. I sincerely regret to part with you, but I 
have received orders to do so. I have put it off as long as 
possible." — '• I thank you, marshal." — " If you wish to re- 
join the depot (of the regiment) of the Yonne, and go into 
service again, I will see that you have a company of grena- 
diers." — '-I thank you ; but I have some business to attend 
to at Auxerre, and then I have three horses which I wish to 
get rid of. I shall ask leave of you to go to Paris to see 
them." — "I grant it with pleasure." — "I shall only need a 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



293 



furlough of a fortnight. My horses are valuable ; I can sell 
them well only in Paris." — '^ You can start from here." — "I 
should like to go by Auxerre." — "I give you full permission 
to do so." 

On the 4th of January I left Bourges ; on the 5th I reached 
Auxerre with my three fine horses. At the town-hall I got a 
billet for five days at the Pheasant. There I found a table 
d'hote at which the Marquis of Ganay, colonel of the regiment 
of Yonne, took his meals. I was asked to his table for three 
francs a meal ; this was too much for my small purse. With 
seventy-three francs a month one 
cannot afford to spend ninety francs 
for dinners, not counting anything 
for my servant and my three horses. 
I could not begin life over again, 
and so I was obliged to be very 
economical. I wrote to my brother 
in Paris to send me two hundred 
francs to pay for the feeding of my 
horses, telling him that as soon as 
they were sold, I would return him 
the amount. I received the two 
hundred francs immediately, and 
set out for Ville-Fargeau to pur- 
chase a wagon-load of hay, straw, ' 
and oats, for the inn had ruined 

me. In six days my three horses and my servant had cost 
me sixty francs. I went to see Carolus Monfort, an inn- 
keeper near my hotel, who offered to serve me. " Come 
to my house," said he to me ; "■ I will lodge you and your 
horses, and only ask you sixty francs a month ; your horses 
shall have separate stalls, and you shall eat at the table 
d'hote.'" — " It is a bargain," said I. " I will go and send all 
my horse-feed over to you." — "I remember you ; you boarded 
at my father's house in 1804." — " That is true, my friend ; 
but sixty francs is very dear. I have only seventy-three 
francs a month." — " You can send away your servant ; my 
boy will groom your horses, and you can get along on three 




294 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

francs a month." — -'Thank you," said I; ".I agree to that." 
So I established myself at the house of that excellent man. 

On the 7th of January I went to see General Boudin, 
'^ General, I am again subject to your orders. Marshal Mac- 
donald has given me a furlough of a fortnight to go to Paris 
to sell my horses." — '■' I forbid you to leave Auxerre." — 
"But, general, I have the permit." — "I repeat that I forbid 
you to leave the city." — "' But, general, I have no money. 
How can I feed them ? " — " That is none of my business." — 
" What must I do ? " — " Let me alone. If you cannot sell 
them, you must blow out their brains." — "No, general, I will 
not do that; they shall eat so long as I have an old coat, and 
I will never harm them. I would rather make a present of 
them to my friends." I took leave of him, and withdrew, 
greatly cast down, but made no boast of what I would do, 
and kept perfect silence on the subject. When I returned to 
my lodgings I at once dismissed my servant. This was only 
the beginning. I did not suspect that I was watched by the 
devotees of the old monarchy. Once established at the house 
of Carolus Monfort, I became the nucleus of his table cVhote. 
The regiment of Yonne was quartered at the insane-hospital 
at the Paris gate ; sixteen or seventeen officers came and put 
up at the house on account of the cheapness of the board, and 
I was then the oldest hand at the table. I was obliged to 
make the acquaintance of the new-comers. Among them was 
an old captain with gray hair, who sat opposite me at the 
table every day. I saw that he Avanted to become acquainted 
with me, and was not at his ease with the young officers. 
One of them, named Tourville, a second lieutenant from the 
life-guardsmen, and another, named St. Leger, formerly ser- 
geant-major in the line, who had been to see the King at 
Ghent, told a fine story of the part thej^ had played in the Mar- 
shal Ney affair. They boasted of having been disguised as 
veterans to shoot him in the Luxembourg. I could stand it 
no longer. I felt ready to jump over the table. I, however, 
restrained myself, and said to myself, " I will catch you the 
first opportunity." 

On Friday Madame Carolus Monfort served us for vegeta- 





" I received orders to ride at the right coach door of the princess, sabre 
in hand." — Pa^e 297. 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



291 



bles a plate of lentils. This threw my antagonists into a 
violent rage. They wanted to take the dish, and throw it out 
of the window. I said to them quietly, " Gentlemen, we 
must let your old captain decide. I refer the question to 
him." The old captain tasted the lentils. " I think, gentle- 
men, they are good." — '-We do not want them." — "All 
right," said I, " suppose I should chase you round the town 
with a whip ? That would not suit you either, would it ? 
But you must submit to it, however. You understand me. I 
have no more to say. I shall wait for you a long time." But 




I waited in vain. I was dealing with pewter plates which 
would not stand fire. The old captain pressed my hand. 

Every day I went to the Cafe Milon to spend the evening 
and see the old habitues play cards. I made the acquaintance 
of M. Ravenot-Chaumont. That excellent man became very 
friendly to ine. After having taken his cup of black coffee, 
he said to me, " Come, captain, let us take our little walk." 
We went out by the Temple gate and through some unfre- 
quented paths to loolv at the vines. I believed myself to be 
alone with my friend, but this was not the case. We saw a 
man lying flat on his stomach under the vine branches, listen- 
ing to our conversation. The police was then watching me. 



296 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

and it Avas not long before I had evidence of this. I was sent 
for to come to the town-hall, and present myself before the 
mayor, M. Blandavot, a big, good-natured magistrate. I had 
reason to congratulate myself upon his reception, which was 
exceedingly pleasant. " Information is lodged against you," 
said he, " You must look out. You are accused of having 
designs against the government." — " I swear to you, upon my 
honor, that it is false. I deny the accuser and the accusation. 
Allow me to justify myself before the rascal. Bring me into 
his presence. I ask neither pardon nor protection. If I am 
guilty have me arrested: you are the mayor." — " Go; I believe 
you, but look out." 

Lovers of fine horses came to see mine. At last a man 
named Cigalat, a veterinary, persuaded me to sell my fine war- 
horse for nine hundred and twenty-four francs to his son 
Robin, who was on the diligence route. He had cost me 
eighteen hundred, but I had to submit to it. I had still two 
left. When the 60th (of the Yonne) had orders to leave 
Auxerre and go into garrison at Auxonne, I received the fol- 
lowing letter from the surgeon-major : " My good captain, 
you can bring your two horses. I think I have sold them, 
if the price suits you (twelve hundred franc's, and eighty 
francs for travelling expenses). If this suits j^ou, you Avill 
find us at Dijon. We are to be there to escort the Duchess 
of Angouleme. The major will take one of them and the 
commandant the other. Come down to the Red Hat. We 
are putting up thei-e." 

How should I manage to go to Dijon? If I asked permission 
to go, I should be told, •' I forbid you to leave the city." The 
devil ! that would spoil it all ! I had to start at three o'clock 
in the morning. I was sleepless, just as if I Avas about to do 
something Avrong. The next day, at eight o'clock, I Avas at 
the hotel of the Red Hat. At eleven o'clock the regiment of 
the Yonne came to escort the duchess. I had had time to have 
my horses watered and fed. The gentlemen Avere informed of 
my arrival ; they came. When the big major saAV me, he 
said, -'The owner of these horses has not yet come, has he ?" 
— " You take me, no doubt, for a servant ; but you are mis- 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 297 

taken. I am the owner of those horses. Keither do I look 
like a servant. I am decorated, and received my decoration 
before you did, begging your pardon. Which of these two 
horses will you take ? " — " The Normandy horse." — " You 
can have it for six hundred francs paid down, and eighty 
francs on time." — " It is a bargain." 

The next day no one knew that I had been absent from 
Auxerre. I moved to the house of Father Toussaint-Arman- 
sier, on the square of the Marche-Neuf. There my board and 
lodging cost me only forty-five francs a month, with a little 
stew of a pound and a half every two days. I used to go to 
the Cafe Milon to see the old customers enjoy themselves, 
without ever taking a cup of coffee myself. From there I 
always went with my friend, Chaumont-Ravenot, to take our 
usual walk, and then I returned to the cafe to stay till ten 
o'clock. This was the life that I led during the time I was a 
bachelor. Scarcely a fortnight passed without my being 
accused of something. Then the accusations became less 
frequent. The commissioner of police was interrogated as to 
my conduct. I must say, for his credit, that I owe my liberty 
to him. He became responsible for me during the whole time 
that I was being watched. He kept his eye upon me without 
saying anything to me. 

The Duchess of Angouleme was about to pass through 
Auxerre, and great preparations were made to receive her. 
Some men of the marine corps, all dressed in white, were 
ordered to unhitch her horses under the gate of the Temple. 
As for me, I received orders to appear in full uniform at the 
gate of the Temple, to ride at the right coach-door of the 
princess, sabre in hand. I went. Orders are not invitations, 
and must be obeyed. 

When I went to my post, I took my stand near the doorway, 
and the poor fools dressed in white dragged the carriage 
slowly by. I, with my old mouth, never uttered a word. She 
might have been sure, if she had known me, that I would not 
have allowed her to be insulted. I always respect the unfortu- 
nate. On reaching St. Etienne square, the carriage stopped 
near the cathedral, and the clergy, with the cross and the 



298 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

great crucifix borne by the Abbe Viard and M. Fortin, the 
vicar, appeared at the left doorway. The Abbe Viard pre- 
sented his crucifix, and poor Fortin, with his head bowed 
upon Abbe Viard's shoulder, was crying bitterly. The tears 
flowed so plentifully over his fat cheeks that I almost felt 
like crying too. One may imagine how much fun there was 
for me in all this. When all the benedictions were over, 
the princess's carriage, drawn by the jackasses of the port, 
entered the courtyard of the prefecture. At the foot of the 
stairway she was received by the authorities, and slowly 
mounted the steps. She looked pale, thin, and careworn. She 
was conducted to a large hall which could hold three hundred 
peojjle. There a throne had been prepared to receive her. 
When my duty was done, I joined the corps of officers on half- 
pay, and went to make a visit to this unfortunate princess, 
the daughter of Louis XVI. Our turn came ; we were 
announced, and formed a circle in that immense hall. She 
did not address a word to us, and looked cross. 

About this time we were told to look out for some place to 
live, which meant, "You are thrown overboard." All the 
officers, who could not remain in the city, went off into the 
country to live among laborers, on consideration of a pen- 
sion of three hundred francs a year. As for me, I determined 
at once what I should do. I went to Mouffy to stay for a 
month, so as to get my little vineyard in good condition, 
feeling sure that by using economy there, I could manage to 
live comfortably on my seventy-three francs a year. I, as 
well as my two laborers, made the handle of my pickaxe 
move. In a month's time my little vines were in excellent 
condition. I did not leave the care of them to my two vine- 
dressers. I showed them that the soldier could resume the 
plough. My poor hands had great blisters on them ; but I 
went to work with all my might, saying, "I have gone through 
many trials ; I will show you, my children, that the earth 
must yield a living to its master."' 

I went back to Auxerre on more serious business. I had 
said to myself, " You must settle down, and marry. You 
must not remain a bachelor any longer, when you have the 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



299 



opportunity to make a home for yourself." But the impor- 
tant part was to find the lady. Whom should I consult ? I 
went to see M. More, who was one of my best friends. I had 
visited him since 1814, and had always been kindly welcomed. 
He had a relative employed in his shop, whom he always 
addressed as "my cousin." I had been particularly struck 
with her business energy, but I had not spoken of it. This 
amiable young woman found a small business, and, without 
saying anything to her relatives, she purchased it. I had lost 
sight of her. Happening one day to go to see M. Labour, the 
confectioner, Madame La- 






bour said to me, " Do you • 
know a decorated captain 
who lives at Champ ? " — 
" No, raadame." — " He is 
the one who wanted to 
marry a girl, one of our 
friends, who lived with 
M. More for eleven years, 
and who has just set up 
in business for herself." 
— " Where has she estab- 
lished herself ? " — " At 
the corner of the Rue des 
Belles-Filles. She paid 
cash for the house and 

business, with a good personal property." — " Well, madame, 
I have no acquaintance with the captain further than having 
seen him at public ceremonies. I cannot give you any positive 
information about him." I bade farewell. "Ah," said I to 
myself, " somebody's going to forestall me with this girl. I 
must not lose any time." 

That same day I went to Mademoiselle Baillet's house : 
that was her name. "Mademoiselle, I should like some coffee 
and some sugar." — "You shall have it, sir," said she. — "I 
should like to have the coffee freshly ground." — "I will 
grind you some. How much do you want ? " — "A pound 
will be enouarh." And so I made her turn her mill. 




300 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

When this operation was over, and my two packages were 
tied up, I paid her. " I have not taken much ? " — '' So much 
the worse, sir." — " That's not Avhat I came for ; I want to 
speak to you." — " Very well ; speak, I am listening." — ''I 
came to ask for your hand. I make my petition myself, with- 
out preamble and without subterfuge. I do not know how to 
make speeches. I ask you this with a soldier's bluntness." 

— " And I answer you as frankly, — perhaps I will give it." 

— " Well, mademoiselle, when shall I come to speak with you 
seriously on the subject ? " — " At six o'clock." 

At six o'clock exactly I presented myself. " You have not 
got your permit ? " — "I am going to ask for it ; but first we 
must come to an understanding about our ways and means. 
In order for me to receive a permit, my future wife must 
bring a dowry of twelve thousand francs." — "I can do that," 
said she, " counting my house and furniture. So far we are 
all right." — " As for me, I have nothing but a few acres of 
ground and some vines, but I have no debts. All my little 
savings have been spent in getting my vines in good order ; I 
did not expect to marry so soon. " — " Very well, ask for your 
permit ; I agree to your proposal." — " And I, mademoiselle, 
pledge my word to you. To-morrow I will make my petition 
to the general." I was kindly received by the general. " I 
will send off your petition at once, and I shall add a post- 
script also." — " Thank you, general." 

Eight days after I received my permit. I hastened to 
Mademoiselle Baillet's house. '• Here is my permit ; we must 
set the day for the signing of the contract. If you are will- 
ing, we can also fix the day for our marriage." — "You are 
in such a hurry ; I ought to tell my relatives about it." — 
"Take your time, and we will settle upon any day that suits 
you." We fixed upon the 10th for the contract, and the 18th 
for our marriage. The contract was signed. M. Marais was 
my witness and M. Labour Avas witness for my future wife. 
My dowry in hard cash was of the smallest. I said to her, 
"My whole fortune consists of four francs and fifty centimes; 
you will be so good as to add the rest. I offer you a repeater 
watch, a beautiful chain, and two silver knives, forks, and 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



301 



spoons. As for my wardrobe, I need nothing; forty shirts 
and other things in proportion ; also seventy-three francs a 
month, a hundred and twenty-five francs a year from the 
Legion of Honor, and four casks of wine. But I do not owe 
a sou." — " All right, sir ; we will do our best."' Everything 
was settled. I went at once to see M. Eivolet to ask him to 
lend me eighty francs to buy a shawl, which I carried immedi- 
ately to my future wife. She was delighted. I Avent after- 
wards to see M. More, and inform him of our expected 
marriage. " Whom are you going to marry ? " — " Your 
cousin. Mademoiselle Baillet." — " She is the very woman I 
should have chosen for you, my 
good fellow. I shall be glad to 
do anything I can for you." — 
" I may have to call on you." 
— " You may rely upon me." 

Then I went to see M. Labour. 
" It is to you that I owe my 
marriage with your friend ; you 
gave me the hint. But for you 
some one else might have se-_ 
cured her." — '-'How fortunate 
it was that we spoke to you." 
But this was not what gave me 
most trouble. I had to go to 

confession. I made some inquiries, and was told that I had 
better apply to M. Lelong, who was a fine man. I went imme- 
diately to see him. " Sir," said I, " I have chosen you to marry 
me." — "But have you been to confession ? " — "No, indeed ; and 
it is for that purpose that I have come to you. What can be 
required of a soldier ? I have done my duty." — " Very well, 
then I will do mine." Then he knelt with both knees on the 
edge of a chair, mumbled a short prayer, and, rising from the 
chair, he gave me his blessing (which was as good as another) 
with my card of confession. " Tell the Abbe Viard that I am 
to marry you. Whom are you to marry ? " — " Mademoiselle 
Baillet." — " Ah," said he, " I studied with her father. Has 
she been to confession ? " — " No, sir." — " Send her to me." 




302 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

— " All right. I should like to be married on the 18th, at 
four o'clock in the morning." — " The church is not open 
till five o'clock, but I will be at the door with the keys at 
half-past four." — " Thank you ; I will go and send my future 
wife to you at once." — '■' I will wait here for her." 

I was ready to jump for joy at having got rid of that duty. 
I went to see my fiancee. " Mademoiselle, I have been to 
confession. M. Lelong is now waiting for you." — " Very 
well ; I will go." — " You must go to his house. He is an old 
friend of your father, so he told me." — " All right ; you stay 
here with these girls. I shall not be gone long." Everything 
was settled in half an hour, and the next day we carried our 
three francs to Abbe Viard. 

I had got everything ready for our departure. I had hired 
a four-seated carriage, which was to wait for us at the Cham- 
pinot gate as we came out of the church. At six o'clock we 
were seated in the carriage after having taken a cup of coffee. 
No one in the neighborhood was up. It was like a runaway 
match. I had informed them at Mouffy that I should bring 
my wife on the 18th, and that they must have ready for four 
of us a good stew. I would attend to everything else. I 
took a three-franc pie, and we started off to dine at Mouffy. 

The next day we went to Coulanges to dine with M. 
Ledoux, who was expecting us, and had ordered a handsome 
dinner. His daughter was one of my wife's shop-girls. We 
returned to Auxerre at nine o'clock in the evening. I am 
sure that, including the carriage, I spent twenty francs in two 
days for my bridal expenses. One could not have been more 
economical. No one in the neighborhood had any suspicion of 
it. The next day I rose at five o'clock to open my shop, and 
my neighbors, seeing me so early, said, •' The lover is an early 
riser." The next day the same thing occurred. They never 
suspected that I was married. 

On Sunday we went out to make some visits. Everywhere 
we were reproached for not having invited any one to our 
wedding. " Do not bear me any grudge. I could not do so. 
I should have been obliged to send you off as soon as we left 
the church. We could not receive you ; there are too many 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 803 

of you. I desire, however, your friendship." The ladies 
said, " If we could only have been present at the benedic- 
tion ! " — " It was too early in the morning to disturb you." 
Everywhere we met with the same reproaches. The family 
was so large that we heard the same thing for three days. 
When these tiresome visits were over, I put on the harness 
at once. I did everything. At four o'clock in the morning I 
was up and attending to our little household affairs. I 
helped my amiable wife with everything. We were not able 
to keep a regular servant, but only a charwoman at three 
francs a month. I put on a coarse cloth apron when I roasted 
the coffee ; but, as I was on half-pay, I was forbidden to wear 
it. I had to submit. 

I went to see M. More, and asked him to furnish me spices 
on credit. " I will let you have all you want." — " But no 
notes. All on my word of honor, and I will keep only a 
little pass-book." — -"You can get all you want." — "Very 
well, we will begin to-day. I shall not buy everything from 
you. M. Labour will have to furnish me certain things, such 
as oil, chocolate, and wax-tapers." — " Everything you want 
you can have." 

My purchases amounted to a thousand francs. He wanted 
me to buy more. " If I want more, I will come again." I 
went to see M. Labour, and made the same request of him. 
" You can get anything you want at my store on a pass-book." 
— " It is a bargain. I shall divide my custom between you 
and M. More." — " That's right, that's all right." — " Come, 
then, let us begin. Here is the memorandum that my wife 
gave me. Put all these articles on my pass-book. The first 
month I will pay M. More, and the next month I will pay 
you. Does that suit you ? " — " Any way that suits you suits 
me." His memorandum amounted to eight hundred francs. 

When all this was settled I had to go back to M. More. 
He gave a little toss of his cotton cap on seeing me enter. 
" Here is a memorandum." — " All right, my good fellow ; 
you shall have the things this evening." I made quite as 
large an account with M. Labour. The four bills amounted 
to three thousand five hundred francs. This seemed a frightful 



304 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

amount to me ; but my dear wife said, " Do not be worried. 
We shall succeed with industry and strict economy. We 
shall come through all right." How fortunate I was to have 
found such a treasure ! 

When we got our business well arranged, customers came 
from every direction, and the amount of our sales was as much 
as we could possibly have expected — fifteen hundred francs 
a month. I was greatly pleased to be able to take a thousand 
francs to M. More and five hundred francs to M. Labour. I 
gladly made fresh purchases from them. 

I was constantly tormented with fears of being informed 
against. When I saw a police agent I always thought he was 
coming for me, and frequently I was not mistaken. My wife 

said to me, "My dear, you must 
look for a garden where you can 
amuse yourself." — "I should like 
to have one," said I. So I looked 
around, and spoke to M. Marais 
about it. He said, . " I will find 
one for you. There are plenty of 
them to be had." One day he 
came to see me, and said, " I have 
found just the thing you want, 
near me on the promenade. Go 
see Father Chopard, the cooper and wooden-shoe dealer. He 
wants to sell his garden." I went to see Chopard. "You 
wish to sell your garden ? " — "Yes, sir." — " Will you show 
it to me ? " — " Certainly, sir." — " Come along then. If it 
suits me, and the price is not too high, I will buy it." 

After I had seen it, I said, " How much do you ask for it ? " 
— " Twelve hundred francs." — " If you will come to my 
house, you can take my wife to look at it. If she likes it, we 
can determine about it." My wife went to see it, and said, 
" It suits us. You can buy it." I went to see those poor 
people, and concluded the purchase for tAvelve hundred francs. 
Oh, how glad I was to have a garden ! It was a barren spot, 
but in a year's time it looked altogether differently. I spent 
six hundred francs on it, and I made my pickaxe and s|)ade 




NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 



305 



fly in it. I made it my Champ d'Asile.^ In my garden I was 
sheltered from spies. It was the delight of both my wife 
and myself, and to it I owe all my good health. I abandoned 
all the rest of the world (I ought to say that I saw persecu- 
tors everywhere). For thirty years I cultivated my sweet 
retreat, never passing two days without going to look at it, 
and during all that time always accompanied by my wife. 

When I got possession of my garden, people came to see 
me. They came to 
see the " old grum- 
bler," always at 
work with his coat 
off and his pickaxe 
in his hand, and so 
happy to own a lit- 
tle piece of ground. 
In 1818 I made a 
good crop on my 
vines at Mouffy. I 
sold the wine for a 
thousand francs, 
which stopped a 
hole in my debts. 
I was very proud 
to be able to carry 
two thousand 
francs to M. More 
and M. Labour in 
addition to my 

monthly receipts. But the spies were always after me. 
About the end of September, 1822, at ten o'clock in the 
morning, a fine-looking man with full black whiskers, and 
handsomely dressed in a blue coat and pantaloons of the 
same color, came to my house. He had the scar of a sabre- 
cut from his ear to his mouth, and looked every inch a sol- 
dier. I could not resist asking him into my little chamber. 




1 There was much talk at that time of the colon}- founded under that name in 
Texas by old soldiers of the Empire, under General Lalleniand. 



306 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

" Pray be seated, and take a glass of wine." My Avife said, 
" If you would like it, I will give you a cup of bouillon." 

— "I cannot refuse it," said he. 

After taking some refreshment, he showed me a list of all 
the officers who remained in the town. " Who gave you that 
list ? " — " I do not know who he was." — " Have you found 
out anything ? " — '' Oh, yes," said he. I said to my wife, 
" Give him three francs." — " Certainly, dear." 

I asked him where he came from. " I came from Greece." 
And he drew some papers from his pocket, and read me the 
names of the principal officers who commanded in Greece. 
" Permit me to ask you this question. Why did you go down 
there ? " — "My commander took me there with him." — '' And 
why have you come back here ? " — " Because I saw my com- 
mander impaled, and that frightened me, and I left the country 
immediately." — " What are you going to do ? " — "I have 
protectors in the office of the minister of war." I took 
leave of this fellow, who went straight to the mayor's office, 
and brought accusation against me. 

I was summoned before the mayor without delay. At noon 
the agent of police informed me that I was sent for. I went 
with my cap on, without even changing my dress. " What do 
you want with me, M. Mayor ? " — " You are accused." — "I 
protest. I ask neither pardon nor protection. I am innocent. 
I know the rascal. He has a sabre-cut on his face, and he 
told me he came from Greece. I gave him three francs, a cup 
of bouillon, and two glasses of wine. He is the very one 
who has informed against me. If you will permit me, I will 
go to see the general." — " He knows all about it." — " What, 
already ? It was only ten o'clock when the rascal left my 
house. He travelled rapidly : he went in two hours. Will 
you allow me to go and explain the matter to the general ? " 

— " Go, and come back and tell me what he says to you." — 
" All right." 

I went to the Rue du Champ. I found the general in his 
chamber, beside a bright fire, in a handsome dressing-gown. 
"Good-morning, general." — " Good-morning, sir." — "I am 
not sir, general. I am Captain Coignet, who has just been 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 307 

accused; but this time I know the rascal who informed 
against me. He is a police-spy from Paris. He came to my 
house with a list of all the officers on half-pay. I would like 
very much to know who was mean enough to give all our 
names. I would take his life, or he should take mine. I gave 
him three francs, two glasses of wine, a cup of bouillon, and, 
in return for my hospitality, he has just accused me of ill- 
conduct. You ought to have kept him here, I think, so that 
I could have seen him in your presence. If you have let him 
go off, it is high time to put an end to this business. For the 
past six years I have been kept under surveillance by you, 
without deserving it. To-day, general, I have determined to 
die, or have my liberty, which I demand of you. You can 
decide which it is to be. I do not ask pardon of you. I 
swear upon my honor that I am innocent, and my word ought 
to be sufficient. This is all I have to say. I will come to- 
morrow at three o'clock to hear what you have decided. You 
can have me arrested, if you choose. If you permit me to 
withdraw, I will take my gun, and go up and down the streets, 
and, if I find the rascal, I will shout to the citizens, ' Get out 
of the way, while I shoot this mad dog.' " — '^ Come, captain, 
restrain yourself." — " General, if your police-spy has not told 
the truth, have a hundred blows laid on him with a good stick, 
and you will not be deceived any more." — " You can go." 

He went with me to the door. I had hit the nail on the 
head. The next day, at a quarter to three o'clock, I stood on 
my doorstep waiting for the hour to come when I should go 
to see the general. M. Ribour came up, and said, " Captain, I 
have come to tell you that all the accusations filed against 
you have been burned before my eyes ; there were forty-two 
of them. You can speak now, and say anything you like ; 
you will not be accused again." 

On the 8th of May the hail injured my garden. I lost my 
little crop. Those who did not suffer from this disaster at 
Auxerre made good wine. I made eighteen casks of it from 
my small vines at Mouffy, which helped me out for the year 
1822. In 1823-1824 I made a tolerable crop, but in 1825 I 
made some excellent wine. I sold it to liquidate my indebt- 



308 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

edness to MM. More and Labour, and I had three hundred 
francs left, which I immediately laid out in groceries, buying 
not a SOU'S worth more. When I went home I said to my 
wife, "I am the happiest of men. I no longer owe anything, 
and here are three hundred francs of fine groceries, for which 
I paid cash." The king was not happier. My little establish- 
ment was nicely kept up. I gave up visiting entirely. In 
summer my wife and I started out at three o'clock in the 
morning ; I went back from the garden at six o'clock to open 
my little shop, and returned at once. At nine I went home 
for breakfast. 

This was the life my dear wife and I led for thirty years. 
May the earth rest lightly upon her ! She was always kind 
to the poor. Every Monday she distributed a wooden bowl 
full of big sous, and she used to knit stockings for the blind. 
She laid by for this purpose twelve francs a month. I said to 
her, " That is too much, dear." — " It will bring us good luck," 
she answered. I have continued to do the same ; but I have 
lost two, which has lightened it by six francs a month. 

Every fortnight my wife had some poor people at our table. 
I have laid aside this habit since I have lived alone. I only 
go myself, and take to them the money that my wife was 
accustomed to give. All her wishes are sacred to me. She 
asked me in a paper, which is in my desk, and which has 
neither date nor signature, to give a hundred francs to her 
brother, Baillet, who is in Paris. That I pay every three 
months from my pension, and also seventy-two francs for her 
poor people, making a sum of one hundred and seventy-two 
francs a year. 

I have involuntarily fallen into a sad train of thought, which 
is, perhaps, out of place here. I will now return to my sub- 
ject. The 3'ears from 1826 to 1829 passed without any 
changes for me. My thirty years of service had expired. I 
had been looking forward to it a long time. I held the rank 
of captain fifteen years eleven months and nine days. My 
services for thirty years amounted to twelve hundred francs ; 
for twelve campaigns, to two hundred and forty francs ; for 
six months, ten francs : total, fourteen hundred and fifty 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 309 

francs. I was retired on the 23cl of August, 1829, the date 
of the expiration of my thirty years of service. A friend 
went to Paris, and attended to my business for me through 
his cousin, M. Martineau des Chesnez, who had charge 
of personal affairs in tlie office of the minister of war. I 
received this fine pension in the Eue des Belles-Filles. A 
good many persons were present when I received my pension, 
which amounted to fourteen hundred and fifty francs instead of 
nine hundred and thirty francs, as I had expected. I uttered an 
exclamation of joy, and said, " So much the better ! My poor 
people shall profit by it." I kept my word. I doubled my 
charities. There was in my neighborhood the widow of a 
soldier, who had two sons and a daughter. I put the two sons 
to school, which cost me eighty francs a year. I gave them 
all my old clothes. One of them I must notice j)articularly ; 
his name was Choude. He made such progress in his studies 
that he entered a small seminary in Auxerre, and now he is 
a curate in a country parish. I have never seen him since ; 
bu.t I did good, and that is enough for me. 

There was great commotion in France in 1830. The people 
were much excited against the old monarchy, and wanted to 
get rid of it forever. Paris revolted ; she always gives the 
start to the revolutions. Paris would like to change govern- 
ment as often as we change our shirts. Auxerre also joined 
the movement. There was great excitement there. Fortu- 
nately, however, it was confined within the town-gates. The 
people contented themselves with having small gatherings at 
the Temple gate, the town-hall, the prefecture, and on the 
road to Paris, in order to intercept the despatches. They 
took good care not to go beyond Mount St. Simeon ; but they 
escorted the mail. Ah, those brave defenders of their coun- 
try ! I watched them slyly, and followed all their movements. 

The authorities hastened to restore order. A national 
guard was formed immediately, and the elections took place 
as soon as possible. To my surprise, I Avas appointed ensign 
without my permission. I had the law on my side. I was at 
libert}^ to join the national guard or not. The ensign's commis- 
sion was brought to me. " Who gave you permission to appoint 



310 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

me without my knowledge ? " — '' Everybody voted for you ; you 
were unanimously elected ; you must not refuse." — " So you 
are the masters, are you ? Who is your chief of battalion ? " 

— " M. Turquet." — " You have chosen a good man. J will 
give you my answer to-morrow. If I accept your ensign, I 
will be at the town-hall at noon." 

I consulted my wife. " You must not refuse," said she. 

— " But it will be an enormous expense, and a heavy task for 
me." — " Do not refuse, I beg you ; they will think you have 




a grudge against them." — " But they have made me suffer a 
great deal by their tale-bearing. They deserve to have me 
send them off." — " No," said she ; " do not remember that 
against them." — " But this will inconvenience us very much. 
It will cost me two hundred francs." — " Do not refuse, I beg 
you." 

At noon I took my answer to them. " Here comes our en- 
sign," they shouted. — " You don't know that, gentlemen ; I 
belong to myself, and not to you. You have no right over 
me ; there is the law. If you think you are doing me a favor 
in giving me this heavy burden, you are mistaken; but I will 






" You are giving this standard into the hands of the soldier who was the 
first man decorated on the 14th of June, 1804." — Page 312. 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 311 

bear it." — " We will give you an aide." — "And this expense 
which I must incur ? You are all rich ; but I am not." — 
'" Come, my good fellow ; you are one of us." — "I promise you 
to enter upon my duty at once. But I do not see your mayor ; 
he must be restored to his position. The police-spies drove him 
away, and you have no right to administer justice. If he does 
not agree to return, he must be replaced. You must immedi- 
ately appoint an officer at the prefect's house to protect him ; 
the spies pointed their bayonets at his breast to make him 
give up his despatches." 

They followed all my advice. Authority was restored to 
its pro]Der channels, and the mayor returned to his post. The 
national guard, numbering from fifteen to eighteen hundred 
men, all dressed in blouses (the tailors had not sufficient time), 
were, called together to go to Arquebuse. I received orders 
to go there in order to be received. A standard had been 
hastily prepared to make the first proclamations. Every day 
they sent me up and down the streets with my heavy burden. 

But later it was still worse. The town had a standard 
made which cost six hundred francs ; it was magnificent. 
The flag was as large as the sail of a seventy-four. It hid my 
face. I bent imder it. When I came in, all my clothes were 
wet with perspiration. One may imagine how amusing all this 
was for an old captain who had seen battles enough. It took 
me two hours to go over the town ; then, when I got back to 
the town-hall, I had to carry it to the house of Commandant 
Turquet at the port. If it had been kept there, I should have 
been thankful. I went beyond my strength. I gave it one 
day to M. Mathieu to take it down. He could not carry it to 
its position. 

Fortunately, the Queen had embroidered one, so it was said, 
for the national guard of Auxerre ; the Duke of Orleans 
brought it. All the national guards of the country districts 
assembled on this occasion. The Prince dismounted at the 
Leopard, and we had to furnish him a body-guard : the firemen, 
the chasseurs, the grenadiers, and the ensign (this was indis- 
pensable). We had to spend the night with our feet in 
water, and have a stable for our guard-room. !No one thought 



312 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

of us. We spent the night shivering, lying on a dunghill. 
This was all the consideration the authorities of Auxerre had 
for the citizens. If a battalion of troops of the line had 
been in our place, the officers Avould not have left us in such a 
condition. The next day I had to carry the standard to the 
town-hall. I took advantage of the opportunity to go by my 
house, and take my breakfast as quickly as possible, so as to 
get back to my post. I had plenty of time to look about me. 
All the national guards from the country had to be stationed 
on the right of the broad walk of Eperon. When all were 
stationed the duke was informed. I was at my post to receive 
the standard. The Prince came on horseback, bearing it him- 
self. He halted in front of me. I said to him, " Prince, you 
are giving this standard into the hands of the soldier who 
Avas the first jnan decorated, on the 14th of June, 1804, in the 
dome of the Invalides, by the hands of the First Consul." 
The Prince replied, "So much the better, my good fellow; 
that is one more guarantee for its being well defended." 
These words and mine were reported in the newspapers. I 
carried the standard for three years, and I cannot tell what I 
suffered. All the quartermasters and corporals trod on my 
feet, having taken too much wine three-quarters of the time. 
Fortunately, they gave me an aide named Charbonnier, an old 
decorated gendarme. Without his assistance I could not 
have served my term. 

The Duke of Orleans, on returning to his hotel, made in- 
quiries about me. The next day we went to escort him, car- 
rying the flag. When he reached Paris he gave an account 
of his mission, and spoke of me. The King, wishing further 
information concerning me, had the muster-rolls in the office 
of the minister of war examined, and found that I had gone 
through all the campaigns. He sent to the chancellor's office 
to make sure that I had really been the first man decorated, 
as I had told his son. All I had said was confirmed. He saw 
that I had been appointed an officer in the Legion of Honor, 
on the 5th of July, 1815, by the provisional government. I 
did not know that the Duke of Orleans was interested in my 
favor, and I did not find it out till 1847. 



NINTH NOTE-BOOK. 313 

On the 31st of January of that year I received a letter, 
and, to my astonishment, I saw that it was addressed to " M. 
Captain Coignet, officer in the Legion of Honor." I said to 
myself, "They are mocking me; they are gilding my pill." 

I broke the seal, and read as follows : — 

Sir, — You were appointed on the 5th of July, 1815, by the pro- 
visional government, and again on the 28th of November, 1831, by 
the King, an officer in the Legion of Honor. Consequently, you 
ought not to be receiving a hundred francs ; you should receive two 
hundred and fifty francs, whicli will be paid you annually. 

(Signed) Secretary-general of the Legion of Honor, 

Viscount de St. Mars. 

So I was appointed for the third time. But who could 
have had me appointed by the provisional government ? 
Turning over in my head the memories of past days, I re- 
called the plain of Les Vertus, the 30th of June, and the 
handsome superior officer who took down my name and my 
Christian names. Perhaps it was he ; he told me his name 
also when he saw me cut off the Prussian officer's nose. Ah ! 
now I remember it. His name was Bory de St. Vincent. 
What a fortunate thing for me to be able to recall the name 
of such a man ! 

I received my commission, and letters from all who were 
interested in me : Count Monthyon, M. Larabit, and my sister- 
in-law Baillet, superintendent of a branch establishment of 
the orphans of the Legion of Honor, in Eue Barbette. 

On the 16th of August, 1848, the anniversary of my birth, 
the greatest of all misfortunes befell me. I lost my dear 
companion, after thirty years of happy days, I was left 
alone, crushed with sorrow. What could I do at seventy-two 
years of age ? I could not undertake anj'thing. My little 
business was not sufficient to rouse me from my deep dejec- 
tion. For a long time I thought over the events of my ear- 
lier life, which now seemed so far away. I said to myself, 
"If I only knew how to write well, I could undertake to 
write the story of all my line campaigns, and the tale of the 
saddest childhood that a child of eight years ever suffered. 



314 THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COIGNET. 

Well, I think God will help me." My resolution taken, I 
bought some paper and other necessary things. I set to work. 
What made it most difficult for me was, that I had no memo- 
randa or any document to assist me. No one can imagine 
how much thought and worry I went through in order to be 
able to retrace the whole of my military career. I can give 
no idea of the trouble I had in portraying myself. If I have 
succeeded, I shall consider myself sufficiently rewarded ; but 
it is time for me to come to an end. My memory is failing. 
It is not the history of others that I have written ; it is the 
story of my own life, which I have told with all the sincerity 
of a soldier who has done his duty, and who writes without 
prejudice. 

And now let me speak to the fathers of families who may 
read this. Let them use every effort to have their children 
taught to read and write, and to train them well. This is the 
best inheritance, and is easily supported. If my parents had 
bestowed this precious gift upon me, I might have made a 
distinguished soldier. I had courage and intelligence. I 
was never punished, always present at roll-call, untiring in 
marches and counter-marches, and I coiild have gone round 
the world without complaining. In order to make a good sol- 
dier, one must have courage in adversity, obedience to all 
officers, no matter of what rank. He who is a good soldier will 
make a good officer. I end the story of my life July 1, 1850. 
Written by me, 

Jean-Rocii Coignet. 




DOCUMENTARY EXTRACTS. 



Statement of the Military Services of Coignet (Jean-Eoch), 
Captain on the General Staff, born at Druyes, in the 
Department of the Yonne, March 16th, 1776, retired at 
Auxerue, Chief Town of the Aforesaid Department of the 
Yonne. 

Entered the service as a soldier in tlie 1st auxiliary battalion of Seiiie- 
et-Marne, the 6th Fructidor, year VII. (2od of August, 1799). 

YRS. MOS. DAYS. 

Incorporated in the 96th half-brigade, the 21st Fructi- 
dor, year VII. (September 8, 1800) .... 1 12 
Entered the guard tlie 2d Germinal, year XI. (March 23, 

1803) 2 6 15 

Corporal, July 14, 1807 4 3 21 

Sergeant, May 18, 1809 1 10 4 

Lieutenant in the line, July 13, 1812 .... 3 1 25 

Captain on the general staff, September 14, 1813 . . 1 2 1 

Retired to his home, by virtue of the letter of the Duke 
of Tarento to the camp-marshal, chief of the general 
staff, dated Bourges, October 31, 1815 .... 2 1 16 

Total of years of service 16 2 4 

Note. — The effective service should be added to what is contained in 
this paper, counting from the 31st of October, 1815, the date of the letter of 
the camp-marshal, chief of the general staff, Count Hulot, who ordered the 
retirement to his native place. 

Collated conformably to the original as shown to us and immediately 
copied by us, mayor of the town of Auxerre, December 2, 1816. 

(Signed) LEBLANC. 



316 DOCUMENTARY EXTRACTS. 

YKS. JIGS. DAYS. 

Campaigns in Italy, years VIII. and IX. . . .2 
Ans X., XI., XII., XII., and XIV. in the army of ob- 
servation on the Gironde, in the armies of Spain and 
Portugal, and the army of England .... 5 
1806 and 1807, in Prussia and in Poland .... 2 
Years 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811 1812, 1813, and 1814, and 
subsequently in Prussia, Poland, Spain, Germany, 
Russia, Saxony, and Poland, and in the army of the ' 
North 7 

Total of campaigns 16 

Legionary, the 25 Praiiial, year XII. (June 14, 1804). 

RECAPITULATION. 

YKS. JIOS. DAYS. 

Effective services 16 2 4 

War campaigns 16 

General total of services up to and including the Slst 

of October, 1815 32 2 4 

A True Copy : 

The Sub-Inspector of the reviews, 

(Signed) LUCET. 

December 2, 1816. 




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